Manufacturers' bulletins

Mining equipment manufacturers regularly issue technical bulletins concerning their equipment, covering such things as maintenance, necessary upgrades, changes in design or safety issues that have arisen. These are normally sent to the mine or equipment owner for their information or any necessary action.

However this system becomes less effective if equipment changes hands and the link to the new owner is lost. Also, unless manufacturers' bulletins that have been issued in the past are stored and catalogued correctly, they may not be accessible to new personnel starting at a particular site or operation.

The Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999, Section 39 'Obligations of persons generally', includes requirements that a person with information that others need to know to protect themselves from the risk of injury or illness, is obligated to pass on that information. Section 44 'Obligations of designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of plant etc. for use at coal mines', includes requirements to ensure appropriate information about the safe use of the plant is available, including information about the maintenance necessary for the safe use of the plant. A supplier of plant who becomes aware of a hazard or defect has an obligation to take all reasonable steps to inform the coal mine operator or contractor of the nature and any modifications or controls to eliminate or correct the hazard or defect or manage the risk. This obligation also requires that manufacturers and suppliers are able to make all relevant bulletins issued over the life of the equipment readily available to those industry personnel who require it.

There are similar obligations in sections 36 and 41 of the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999, for the metalliferous mining and quarrying sector.

As soon as a manufacturer's safety related bulletin is received on a minesite, the responsible person should take appropriate action that includes:

• storing and cataloguing the information to make it available to others on site who may need it now or in the future
• ensuring that all previously issued manufacturers' / suppliers' safety related bulletins pertaining to equipment under their control are also stored and catalogued for reference
• if necessary contacting the manufacturer or supplier who should then supply copies of the previously issued safety related bulletins.

Authorised by Peter Minahan - Chief Inspector of Mines

Contact: minesafetyandhealth@dnrm.qld.gov.au

Issued by Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines