Explosives incidents and complaints

September 2014 report

This document lists all explosives safety and security incidents and complaints reported in the month of September 2014. Th is report also includes a summary of all safety and security incidents and complaints for the past year. The number of injuries and fatalities for financial year 2014-15 is also included below which is categorised by community or industry.

September 2014 Financial year to date (2014-15)

Community 0 fatality 2 injuries 0 fatality 2 injuries Industry 0 fatality 7 injuries 0 fatality 7 injuries

Figure 1: Explosives incidents and complaints September 2014

Misfires, 19 __ -4

Unsecured Explosives, 2

Fireworks Complaint, 9

Blasting Complaint, 1

Breach Exclusion Zone, 1

Fume Event, 2

J----Homemade explosives, 1

,__ __ Other/Unknown, 5

~--Vehicle Incident, 3

Explosives Discrepancy, 1

}::=================:::::::~ Department of Natural Resources and Mines -

: . 1 . : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Figure 2: Breakdown of misfire causes September 2014

Great state. Great opportunity. Queensland Government -

Other/Unknown, 11

General

Underground

'--__ Other/Unknown, 4

Connector fai lure , 1

Detonator fai lure, 1

Explosives found mucking

out, 1

Figure 3: Past year incidents October 2013 - September 2014

Other Incidents,

211

Misfires, 485

Explosives incidents and complaints September 2014 ©State of Queensland, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2014.

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Incidents other than misfires (211)

Unsecured explosives

Theft of explosives -Explosives found

Explosives Discrepancy

Vehicle Incident

Unintended Initiation -Unaut horised entry to reserves • Suspicious activity -Pump incident

Product Failure

Other/Unknown

Illegal Activity

Homemade explosives • Fu me Event

Flyrock

Drill into I near explosives

Damage to explosives I packaging

Breach Exclusion Zone

Blasting Complaint

Fireworks Complaint

0 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Breakdown of incidents for September 2014

Security

Description Explosives involved Outcome

Explosives Discrepancy (1 Incident)

Incorrect product issued/ despatched

Blasting Explosives Incorrect quantity in export container, product identified and verified by customer. Procedures reviewed to deter repeat of event.

Unsecured explosives (2 Incidents)

Explosives left unattended in vehicle

Blasting Explosives Investigation undertaken. Carry boxes to be labelled "not for storage purposes". Training to be developed for persons managing magazines.

Unsecured Explosives Blasting Explosives Suspension of loading operations. Implementation of requirement to reconcile loaded holes. Shotfirers tobe formally nominated to a blast.

Safety

Mining

Description Explosives involved Outcome

Misfires- aboveground (6 incidents)

1 x Dislocation of column 4 x Unknown/unidentified 1 x Connector failure

Blasting Explosives Various Including: -Electronic read error- Identified and managed per site misfire procedures -Hole refired after risk assessment

Misfires- underground (1 0 incidents)

1 x Detonator failure 1 x Explosives found mucking out 11 x Unknown/unidentified

Blasting Explosives Various Including -Lifters refired.

Fume event (2 Incidents)

Explosives not matched to the ground

Blasting Explosives No unplanned evacuations. Nil exposures. Fume event did not leavethe lease.

Poor blast design Blasting Explosives Fume breached outside 2km exclusion zone. Report completed and recommendations to minimize fume generation proposed.

Vehicle Incident (3 Incidents)

Forklift impact with fuel tanker

Blasting Explosives No adverse outcome.

Prill container contacted Blasting Explosives No adverse outcome.

Explosives incidents and complaints September 2014 © State of Queensland, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2014.

Version 1, 6 November

diesel truck.

Mechanical failure-Collapsing of Ammonium Nitrate tank on Mobile Manufacturing Unit.

Blasting Explosives Inspection showed breathers were blocked, allowing pressure to build up in tank.

Other (1 Incident)

Fire in engine bay of light vehicle.

Blasting Explosives Vehicle repaired and back into service. Incident was managed satisfactory by the mine

Fireworks

Description Explosives involved Outcome

Breach Exclusion Zone (1 incident)

Fireworks malfunction Fireworks Matter reported to contractor and supplier Some disagreement overtype involved.

Other (1 incident)

Debris fell into crowd during display Fireworks No complaints received Contractor aware.

Transport

Description Explosives involved Outcome Other (1 Incident) Ammonium nitrate explosion after vehicle crash

Blasting Explosives Investigation ongoing. 7 injuries. Road and rail bridge destroyed. 2 x Fire appliances Damaged. 2 x trucks damaged. Police car damaged. 1 x Road train destroyed.

Other

Description Explosives involved Outcome Homemade explosives (1 incident) Two people injured with home-made explosives.

Homemade explosives

Following discussions with Police, not further follow-up to be undertaken. 2 minor injuries.

Other/unknown (2 Incidents) Suspicious veh icle found near Government Explosives Reserve

None Police and other explosive precinct stakeholders notified. Increase of Police and Security patrols around precinct.

Trenching machine struck stay wire of power pole near Government Explosives Reserve.

None Incident investigated.

Version 1, 6 November 2014, Page~----------------------------Explosives incidents and complaints September 2014 © State of Queensland, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2014.

Complaints

Description Explosives involved Outcome . ..

) .. .. Community (2 Incidents .. .. .. . ..

.. .. .. ..

Fireworks complaint- wasn't listed on Fireworks .. . . . .. .. .. Complainant's

.. website. .. .. .. . .. expectation for

.. .. .. . . .

. .. .. .. .. notification exceeded

.. .. .. .. . ..

.. . Code . Fireworl<s complaint Fireworks Contractor informed

after animals disturbed.. .. -· · ·

··.. .. ...

. . . .. .. .. Other (6 Incidents) .. . . .

.. .. .. .. .

1 x Illegal fireworks .. . Fireworl<s Authorised display but .. ..

.. .. .. . . .

.. .. . .. problems of .. ..

.. .. .. .. . permission,

.. .. .. ...

Recommend 8100 for display documentation···

Fireworks complaint - noise and proximity Fireworks AtJthorised display, .. .. .. .. . .. complainant over 1 km .. ..

.. .. . .. .. .. .. . . . away. Advised to

.. .. . .. .. .. ... contact local Council .. Fireworks co~pj~jnt ~· noise Fireworks Noise caused by

.. .. . .. pneumatic canons .

Only fireworks invo l ~!i!.d .. .. - ··

were ~~rbs.- · · · · · Fireworks complaint - no formal Fireworks .. .. . .. Cohfractor made

.. .. .. notification .. .

.. .. .. aware . .. .. ..

.. . .. .. ... .. ..

Fireworks compla_i~t. :-:-.ooi-se · · · · Fireworks Contractor made .. .. . ..

.. .. .. aware .

. . . Fireworks complaint - frequency and Fireworks lnvestiga!iQn . . . · · · · · · noise .. .. undertaken. Spoke to

.. .. .. .. ..

.. . . . . EPA and Cairns City

.. .. .. .. . .. ... .. Council. In house legal .. .. .. .. .. .

.. .. .. . . . review EPA guidelines .. .. ..

.. .. . .. .. in Code . .. .

Underground Mining (1 Incident) .. .

Mis-management of explosives Blasting Explosives lnves_t!g.ation {)ngolrig .. . .. ..

. .. .. .... .. .. . . . . ..

Authorised by Chief Inspector of Explosives Erichsen The info rmation conta!l")ed in this ·rep~rt is provided for information onry." ....

It is not to be taken as a statement of law and must not be

construed to waive o r modify any legal obligation.

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