Workers banned from Anglo’s Grosvenor mine due to spontaneous combustion risk
Grosvenor coal mine stops people from going underground at the site because of the risk of spontaneous combustion.
Anglo American’s troubled Grosvenor coal mine has had to stop people from going underground at the site because of the risk of spontaneous combustion, weeks after an explosion badly burned five miners.
The mine workers were nearly killed at the central Queensland metalliferous coal mine last month when methane ignited and exploded.
As an investigation continues into what caused the blast, workers were ordered not to go underground from Saturday, after levels of carbon monoxide and other gases began to rise.
An Anglo American spokeswoman says the higher risk of spontaneous combustion has been caused by the stoppage of mining at the site, after last month’s explosion.
The explosion is believed to have been caused by elevated underground methane levels - a different issue than the current spontaneous combustion risk.
No crews will return underground until it is proven to be stable, she said.
“Over the past few days we have seen levels of carbon monoxide and other gases start to rise, such that we enacted our Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP) for spontaneous combustion risk,” the Anglo spokeswoman said.
“We made a precautionary decision to restrict people from entering the underground for safety reasons on Saturday (well before the removal would have been triggered). These crews were undertaking essential work to ensure the ongoing integrity and safety of the mine.”
Four of the injured miners remain in the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital but their condition has improved to stable.
They are now in the burns unit, rather than in intensive care.
One of the men has been released from hospital.
Queensland Mines Minister Anthony Lynham has ordered a rare board of inquiry into the Grosvenor mine explosion, along with several other high potential methane-related incidents at that mine and others.
A Queensland Mines Inspectorate spokesman said it was still investigating the May 6 explosion.
“QMI were advised by Anglo American of the spontaneous combustion risk on Friday 5 June and the decision to withdraw its workers, in accordance with its procedures, as a precautionary measure,” the spokesman said.
Anglo American are keeping the QMI informed of the situation and steps they are taking to manage the event.”
“At this stage the investigation into the ignition event on the 6 May 2020 has not been impacted by this recent event.”
The CFMEU said it was having urgent safety meetings with Anglo American’s central Queensland workers after issues at all three of the company’s underground mines.
CFMEU state president Steve Smyth said workers at Grasstree Mine downed tools on Saturday night, after excessive gas entered the mine and risked ignition.
Mr Smyth said workers at the company’s Moranbah North mine were protesting over management’s refusal to meet over safety issues.
He said there were “serious concerns” about the management of conditions underground at the Grosvenor mine.
Mr Smyth said gas management was the most critical safety issue in underground mines and safety protocols should be stepped up in the wake of the May explosion.
“It is time for AngloAmerican to override local management at its Queensland underground coal mines and insist that safety is put ahead of production,” he said.
“It is beyond belief that just weeks after five men were nearly killed at Grosvenor, we are hearing reports of corners being cut and management refusing to talk to workers’ representatives about safety concerns.
“It reflects poorly on the safety culture at Anglo mines.”