IEM calls for thorough investigations - BorneoPost Online
BorneoPost Online, 26 November 2014
KUCHING: The Institute of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) is concerned over the recent coal mine explosion at Selantik Quarry, Pantu near Sri Aman last Saturday.
Its president Dato Lim Chow Hock, in a press statement, said IEM wanted a thorough post-incident investigation to be carried out to determine whether the coal mine had implemented the adequate safety and prevention measures in accordance with standard engineering procedures and the necessary legislative requirements.
“The investigation should also include whether the coal mine safety facilities and fire control systems are continuously maintained and records of such maintenance properly documented.
“IEM is also concerned whether any safety assessment has been carried out on all electrical equipment especially explosive type fitting. The electrical design standard shall conform to the explosive type fitting requirement under the most hazardous environment.
“Due to the presence of methane gas in mines, all electrical equipment must be robust. Such specialised equipment are designed either to contain any explosion within the device, or is designed not to produce sparks with sufficient energy to trigger an explosion.
“Electrical safety inspection and electrical hazard safety awareness should be carried out regularly by competent personnel,” he opined.
According to Lim, IEM proposed that all contractors and mining operators involved in underground mining activities must adhere to all the requirements of Malaysian Standard MS 2363: 2010 Work in Tunnelling – Code of Practice or its equivalent BS 6164 and the Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health in Tunnel Construction 1998.
“In addition, the relevant authorities should conduct more regular inspection at all coal mines to ensure strict compliance to the safety standards and operational guidelines.”
“As reported, during the rescue operation, the level of methane was too high and rescue operation was halted. It would seem that the mine ventilation stopped operation and hindered rescue operations.
“As underground mines are confined and difficult to access, robustness of ventilation system is needed. Alternative measures and contingencies, such as back-up shaft or exhaust ventilation system, should be available for emergency use. The underground ventilation systems should be designed as part of the overall fire response and control protocol. Ventilation should be arranged to be reversible so that emergency responders may approach an underground fire from more than one direction and from the upstream ventilation flow direction.
“While it is regretted that the incident has claimed three lives (four at latest count), the management of the coal mine concerned must ensure that a proper Emergency Response Plan should be in place and executed immediately upon occurrence of any emergency incident in order to prevent loss of lives and at the same time minimise the damage and injuries,” he said.
IEM is also of the opinion that a Disaster Prevention Master Plan for Mining Industry should be formulated urgently, said Lim.
“IEM with its available resources is willing to assist the Government with the necessary technical advice in the preparation of such master plan and to serve in any safety committee related to mining,” he added.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was probably caused by a spark from a faulty fan which caused an explosion in the tunnel which is 700 metres long.
However, the investigation on the incident is still on-going.
