Mines safety alert no. 269 | 28 June 2011 | Version 1
Investigations are ongoing and further information may be published as it becomes available. The information in this publication is what is known at the time of writing.
We issue Safety Notices to draw attention to the occurrence of a serious incident, raise awareness of risks, and prompt assessment of your existing controls.
All coal mines
The prevailing wind carried the blast fume cloud from an open-cut coal mine close to nearby ventilation intakes for an underground coal mine.
No equipment or machinery involved.
Contamination of underground coal mine ventilation with noxious gases from open-cut blasting.
Such an incident may occur if blast management at the open-cut mine fails to consider the potential for blast fume cloud contamination of the intake airways of nearby underground coal mines.
Blast fume sucked into the ventilation system of an underground coal mine can immediately affect the health of large numbers of coal mine workers.
Contact: minesafetyandhealth@dnrm.qld.gov.au
Issued by Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
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All information on this page (Potential contamination of underground mine ventilation by blast fumes generated at an open-cut mine - https://www.rshq.qld.gov.au/safety-notices/mines/contamination-ventilation-blast-fumes-open-cut-mine) is correct as of time of printing (Apr 25, 2024 10:11 am).