NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS UN ECE – Geneva, November 2007 Electrical Ex Regulation in NSW Mines John Francis Waudby Senior Inspector of Electrical Engineering Mine Safety Operations

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Overview Introduction – NSW Mines Electrical equipment in mines Regulation and the use of IEC Standards and Schemes

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Mining in NSW Coal Metalliferous Quarrying Sand Dredging Opals Fatality rate = 1/year LTIFR = 16 per million hours Last fatality 09/01/2007

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Mining in NSW Total (continuous + intermittent) = 1700 O/C Coal mines = 37 U/G Coal mines = 34 Coal production = 150, 000 tonnes / annum Coal U/G production = 50, 000 tonnes / annum Coal employment = 13, 000

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Role of the NSW Mining Regulator Mine site assessments Investigations Standards & legislation development Communication to all stakeholders Industry support infrastructure

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Role of the NSW Mining Regulator Strategic Plan Standards & Legislation Program Communication Program Industry Infrastructure Support Program Special Projects Mine Safety Technology Centre

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Electrical Engineering Safety Prevention of gas and/or dust explosions Prevention of electric shock and burns Prevention of fires Prevention of unintended operation of equipment Provision of electrical safeguards

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Coal Mining – Electrical Engineering Safety Performance Last fatal accident 23 years ago Last electrocution 24 years ago Last fatal explosion 28 years ago

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Coal Mining – Electrical Engineering Safety Performance Explosions / major gas ignitions 8/1/1979 - West Wallsend 24/7/1979 – Appin 28/6/1995 - Endeavour 12/12/1997 - Munmorah

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS NSW Mining Regulator Experience with Electrical Equipment

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Approval of Electrical Equipment Explosion protected equipment Electrically powered mobile machines for use U/G Electrically powered mobile machines for use in O/C’s Portable apparatus for use underground Electrical protection relays for use underground

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Approval of Electrical Equipment Electrical protection relays for use in open cuts Electric cables used in hazardous zones Caplamps Gas detectors Electric shotfiring equipment (U/G & O/C)

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Approval of Electrical Equipment Based on a test report from a recognised test lab Reviewed by a competent engineer Signed by the Chief Inspector of Coal Mines Approval documents and number issued (no time limit) Database kept

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Approval of Electrical Equipment Some approvals were issued with non - compliance to standards Approval was initially free Conditions of manufacture / use were specified Approval related to use & “pit worthiness”

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Approval of Electrical Equipment It was as a result of serious accidents One element in prescriptive technical regulation It was based on published standards Supported by competent mine electrical engineers Supported by an approved workshops scheme

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Approval of Electrical Equipment Approval / competency schemes were credible 1988 – Risk assessment introduced to the coal industry

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Evolution of approvals 1991 ALL approvals were subject to review Hazardous zone cables were deemed to be approved Approval scheme became stressed. Other organisations appointed as “approvers”

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Evolution of approvals Role of the regulator: quality auditor database manager ad-hoc technical review By 1998 the approval scheme had deteriorated

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Evolution of approvals Equipment approved that was not Ex Approval processes were not good enough A new strategic direction was required

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS From Approval to Certification Queensland had accepted Co. C’s as early as 1994 NSW looked to follow Qld Active participation in Ex management schemes By 1998 risk assessment was well established In 1999 regulations changed along with approval

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS From Approval to Certification Other equipment was required to comply with specified standards Portable apparatus had to be used within a management scheme

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS From Approval to Certification 2002 - confident in the ANZ Ex scheme and the ANZ Ex CB’s AUS Ex and ANZ Ex Co. C’s deemed suitable (with conditions) The IEC Ex scheme commenced – acceptance extended to Australian issued IEC Ex Co. C’s

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS From Approval to Certification Extensive review of the IEC Ex scheme conducted Canvassed industry via a discussion paper for full IEC Ex acceptance Legislation changed in December 2006 approval became “registration” Ex equipment was not included Ex equipment had to meet specified criteria

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS From Approval to Certification Continuing to participate in Ex scheme MC’s Continuing to review IEC Ex Co. C’s and ATR’s Planned random audits of IEC Ex ATR’s and Co. C’ s from ALL types of IEC bodies Supported by a specific minesite program.

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Overview – Approval to Certification Approval and competency schemes evolved Legislation embraced contemporary OH&S Mngt National & International certification schemes matured Industry culture evolved All of this allowed the DPI to embrace certification Redirect resources to mine site activities.

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Summary – Regulation & Ex equipment Coal mine explosions are high risk events. Ex is a critical risk control Additional scrutiny is needed. The scrutiny must be credible Ex equipment must be Ex throughout its life. When new, it is as good as it gets Ex supported by the correct regulatory requirements

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Ex equipment - Additional scrutiny Be applied at the proper points of the equipment life cycle. Support all activities throughout the life cycle. Support the hierarchy of risk controls Provide for a level of risk less than or equal to what we do now Recognise the harsh mining environment Be competent Be credible

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Ex equipment - Credible scrutiny Set standard Consistent and repeatable Competent people Proper procedures Fit for purpose equipment & facilities Managed work environment Ethical work environment

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Principles for managing Ex equipment to be certified Suppliers of equipment to provide sufficient life-cycle information Requires mines to have Ex repairs done at licensed facilities Requires a competent mine electrical engineer Requires an Electrical Engineering Management Plan Requires mines to establish electrical competency requirements

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS IEC Ex – Support for the regulator IEC Standards and Ex Schemes provide Standards of design Competent designers Third party design verification Confidence in the manufacture Ex equipment arrives at the mine in an Ex condition.

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS IEC Ex – Support for the regulator Equipment is installed, commissioned, maintained & used properly Provision of information Selection, installation, commission, inspect and maintenance standards Competency for life-cycle management (proposed)

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS IEC Ex – Support for the regulator Ex management dictates overhaul and repair Equipment overhauled and repaired back to its certified state Provision of information Repair and overhaul standards Independent assessment of competencies Independent assessment of workshops Facilities, tools, equipment and measurement Work processes, competencies and management systems

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Summary - IEC Ex supporting the regulator The IEC Ex standards and IEC Ex schemes provide for: provision of information life cycle management appropriate independent assessment at appropriate points All of the above is required by contemporary OH&S legislation

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS A regulator using IEC Ex Currently the DPI: has accepted equipment certified under the IEC Ex scheme. is monitoring the implementation of the IEC Ex services scheme IEC Ex Co. C’s have been accepted via a gazette notice The regulator still retains prohibition powers

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS OBSERVATIONS IEC Ex certification of equipment - Very confident that it is Ex Regulators can use this as a minimum expectation The extent of national regulation is dependent on “safety culture” Countries with no Ex certification can use the IEC Ex scheme with confidence Countries with developed national schemes can easily transition to IEC Ex Countries who rely on IEC Ex must participate

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS CONCLUSIONS The IEC Ex standards and schemes can aid: Life cycle management of Ex equipment The regulator’s aims for electrical engineering safety A mine operator’s fulfilment of OH&S obligations An equipment suppliers fulfilment of OH&S obligations Credibility of the schemes is a critical component We are committed to a highly credible IEC Ex scheme

NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES MINE SAFETY OPERATIONS Other information & Contact details Other Information Technical and Safety Regulation of the Energy Sector Discussion paper at www. ena. asn. au Contact details Website: www. minerals. nsw. gov. au/safety Email: john. waudby@dpi. nsw. gov. au