Impact-sensitive explosives damaged during mine site delivery

In a recent incident, a pallet of Class 1 explosives fell from the rear of a delivery vehicle while being unloaded at a Queensland mine site, resulting in Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) issuing important safety guidelines.

As this was the third reported incident of this type in recent years, safety recommendations have been authorised by the Deputy Chief Inspector –Explosives at RSHQ, directing all relevant authority holders to review their systems to prevent future incidents. Class 1 explosives are impact-sensitive, and the effects of a fall could cause unplanned detonation or damage to the explosives.

In the most recent incident, the operator lost control of the pallet jack while manoeuvring a heavy pallet of detonating cord towards the rear of a light industrial during its unloading. The pallet jack rolled under the weight of the pallet, falling 1.2m from the rear of the truck.

Work in the area ceased immediately and an exclusion zone was established while the volatile material was safely recovered.

Key safety recommendations include: authority holders reviewing their safety management systems; workers must be trained, assessed, and monitored to ensure they understand the control measures for the use of a pallet jack; that all training is effective; that hazards such as weight, gradient and visibility are identified; and that procedures for the transport and handling of explosives adequately address the manufacturers recommendations and that the Australian Code for the Transport of Explosives by Road and Rail is followed.

Electrical components fail on ammonium nitrate equipment

Key safety recommendations have been circulated by inspectors from Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) stemming from recent incidents of corroded electrical components.

In the first instance, damaged electrical components in the vicinity of ammonium nitrate product were subject to corrosion, with routine maintenance and pre-start inspections failing to identify and replace affected wiring, solenoids, actuators and switches.

A wiring harness with damaged insulation on a Mobile Processing Unit (MPU) bin lid actuator energised, resulting in a small fire.

MPUs are purpose-built vehicles that are used in mining operations to manufacture or blend Class 1 bulk explosives at the location of blasting. In another incident, an internally corroded actuator energised and started a NAPCO ammonium nitrate emulsion (ANE) pump, while the mine re-load was unattended.

Where ANE pumps are inadvertently activated, or where they fail to shut down, no-flow events introduce heat into the ammonium nitrate emulsion, generally under confinement. This can lead to thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate emulsion and an unplanned detonation event.

Key safety recommendations include: all fittings and components having a rating in accordance with relevant standards; that workers using mobile and fixed plant/equipment should conduct thorough preoperational checks to ensure that external wiring, solenoids, actuators and switches are operational; and that preventive maintenance incorporates the testing and examination of electrical components subject to ammonium nitrate and emulsion exposure.

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Our SafeTest range of products offer wireless testing solutions that work up to 50m away so technicians stay clear from crush zones and out of the line of fire when live testing, ensuring worker safety, minimising Lost Time Injury (LTI) and reducing company liability.

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Australia’s new disability-inclusive job site launches

Australians with disability now have more job and career opportunities than ever, with the country’s new disability-inclusive site, the Field. The employment rate for people with a disability has not changed in over 28 years compared to those without disability, and today there are 4.4 million people who identify as having a disability, 2.1 million of which are of working age, with nearly half a million actively seeking work. The Field is here to level up employment opportunities for everyone by removing the accessibility barriers often faced by people with disability in traditional employment platforms.

Businesses will have access to a range of practical support including an inclusive language tool that assists employers to post disabilityinclusive job ads, and digital training resources to build capability and grow understanding when it comes to inclusive practices.

Employers will also promote and highlight their inclusive strategies and the accessible features within their workplaces, so candidates have more information and choice when applying for a job that suits their skills, experiences and accessibility requirements. The Field also hopes to improve the recruitment experience for jobseekers, focusing on what people can do, rather than what they can’t. Designed, delivered and led by people with disability, the Field provides equitable access to job-seekers, while simplifying