Lesson 3 – Self Rescuers

1.GENERAL INFORMATION

Barberton Mines (PTY) limited consists of three underground mining operations within a radius of 15km of Barberton magisterial district. The mines fall under the area serviced by the Lowveld Escarpment Regional Service Council.

Mine product is sulphide concentrate containing large amounts of arsenopyrite and free gold that is processed at a central biological oxidation plant at Fairview Section. The target product is gold.

The mining methods or combination of methods used at the mine are as follows:

Sheba: 

25  42  52.0  S

31  08  17.0  E

 

The Sheba Mine Geotechnical area is further sub divided into two (2) separate ground control districts, which are essentially defined by the nature of the mineralized zone and ground types in which mining is to take place. The mining method and support standards for each of this Geotechnical Controlled Districts (GCD) are therefore defined by the dip, width, and rock strengths and physical properties of the host rock, as listed below:

Fairview: 

25  43  52.7  S

31  04  27.5  E

 

The Fairview Geotechnical area is further sub divided into three separate ground control districts, which are essentially defined by the nature of the mineralized zone that is to be mined. The mining method and support standards for each of these Geotechnical Controlled Districts (GCDs) are therefore defined by the dip, width, and rock strengths of the host rock, as listed below:

Consort: 

25  40  11.1  S

31  05  03.5  E

 

The New Consort Geotechnical area is further sub divided into four (4) separate ground control districts, which are essentially defined by the nature of the mineralized zone and ground types in which mining is to take place. The mining method and support standards for each of these Geotechnical Controlled Districts (GCDs) are therefore defined by the dip, width, and rock strengths and physical properties of the host rock and are listed below.

The tipping points, rock passes and box fronts at Barberton Mines (PTY) Limited where reasonably practical are designed and laid out to ensure the safety and the safe operation of our employees. Reasonably measures are taken to provide the necessary employees with necessary skills and training, to ensure safe day-to-day operation.

Other relevant Codes of Practice and Standard Operating Procedures:

• COP 21: Prevention Flammable Gas Explosions in Mines
• COP 28: Lamp Rooms
• COP 32: The right to refuse dangerous work
• COP 10: Emergency Preparedness
• COP 33: Draft
• SOP 55: Ventilation Standards in place
• SOP 73: Refuge Bay
• SOP 57: Fire Prevention Measures
• SOP 74: Lamp Room Measures
• SOP 87: Escape Rescue (Fairview)
• SOP 88: Escape Rescue (Sheba)
• SOP 89: Escape Rescue (Consort)

 

 

2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 

HIRA                  means   Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

RA                     means   Risk Assessment

DMR                  means   Department of Minerals and Resources

MHSA                means   Mine Health and Safety Act

MHSC                means   Mine Health and Safety Council

SAMRASS         means   South African Mines Reportable Accident Statistical System

SIMRAC            means   Safety in Mines Research Advisory Committee

MRAC               means   Mining Regulation Advisory Committee

COP                  means   Code of Practice

BML                  means   Barberton Mines Limited

SCSR                means   Self Contained Self-Rescuer

LDSCSR           means   Long Duration Self Contained Self-Rescuer

BWSCRS          means   Body Worn Self Contained Self-Rescuer

OEM                  means   Original Equipment Manufacturer

DONNING         means   is the procedure followed by workers to activate their SCSR as  required by mine procedures in an emergency.

 

 

EMERGENCY

means a situation, event or set of circumstances at a mine that could threaten the health or safety of persons at or off the mine, and which requires immediate remedial action, such as the evacuation, rescue or recovery of persons, to prevent serious injury or harm, or further serious injury or harm, to persons.

 

IRRESPIRABLE

atmosphere means an atmosphere in a mine requiring workers to wear breathing apparatus or Self-Contained Self-Rescuers due to the presence of poisonous gas or insufficient oxygen caused by an incident at the mine e.g. as a result of but not limited to combustible gases explosions, coal-dust explosions, combined gas and dust explosions, or mine fires.

 

SABS

means the South Africa Bureau of Standards

 

 

SANS

means South African National Standard.

 

PLACE OF SAFETY

means any place, which, during an emergency, can sustain life for the duration of the emergency and is adequate in size and capacity to accommodate the maximum number of affected persons likely to be present in the area served by it.

Such places could include:

An intake airway commencing from the surface of the mine, which contains no combustible material or in which all combustible material has been rendered fire-resistant or in which any residual combustible material is present only in quantities that will not endanger the safety of workers during the working shift, and in which no blasting is taking place or,

A selected place in the underground workings where additional self- rescuing devices (e.g. a SCSR cache) are stored ready for use, sufficient in number to cater for the number of persons likely to make use of such devices and of duration adequate to reach any other place of safety along the assigned escape route, or

A refuge bay constructed in terms of the requirements of Regulation 16.6 of MHSA and Annex I of the guidelines for the compilation of a mandatory code of practice for emergency preparedness and response.

 

ATA

means Approved Testing Authority

 

DEPLOYMENT

(of Self-Contained Self-Rescuers) is a process by which SCSRs are issued individually to workers, contractors or visitors to a mine or section of a mine where, through the application of Regulation 16.2 of the MHSA, workers must be equipped with SCSRs when proceeding underground.

 

 

2.1  DEFINITIONS

 

Emergencies – means a situation, event or set of circumstances at a mine that could threaten the health or safety of persons at or off the mine, and which requires immediate remedial action, such as the evacuation, rescue or recovery of persons, to prevent serious injury or harm, or further serious injury or harm to persons.

 

Breathing apparatus – means an apparatus which render the user independent from breathing from the atmosphere for a minimum of two hours.

 

 

3. RISK MANAGEMENT

3.1  In line with the compliance to section 11 of the Mine Health and safety Act, The Baseline Risk Assessment has been conducted where all reasonably foreseeable hazards and associated risks have been considered during the drawing up of this COP.

All possible relevant information such as accident statistics, locality of mine and emergency services, ergonomic studies, research reports, manufacturers specifications approvals, design criteria and performance figures for all relevant equipment, has been obtained and/or considered to assist with the risk assessment.

 

3.2  In addition to the periodic review required by section 11(4) of the MHSA, the COP will be reviewed and updated after every serious emergency, altered circumstances, or if significant changes are introduced to procedures, mining and ventilation layouts, mining methods, plant or equipment and material.

 

 

4. ASPECTS TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE MANDATORY CODE OF PRACTICE

The COP must set out how the significant risks assessed and identified in terms of the Risk assessment process referred to in paragraph 7.1, will be addressed unless there is no significant risk associated with that aspect at the mine, the COP must cover the aspects set out below (Annexure A1)

 

4.1  SCSR Selection Criteria

 

4.1.1  Only self-contained self-rescuers compliant with SANS 1737 may be used on the mine.

• The body worn escape type breathing apparatus shall be classified in terms of the rated duration (see 3.7 of the SANS 1737) as determined by the performance test accordance with 5.10 at the flow rates of 35 L/min and 50 L/min
• The escape apparatus shall be of sound and reliable construction and shall be compact.
• The escape apparatus shall be so designed that:

‒There are no parts or sharp edges likely to come in contact with the wearer of catch clothing or projections in narrow spaces (Confined spacing)

‒The ingress of the external atmosphere is prevented within the limits set out in this SANS standard

‒It is not possible to activate the escape apparatus unintentionally.

‒The protective casing shall be provided with effective means to indicate whether tampering has taken place

 

 

4.1.2  Donning Procedure in case of Emergency

1.Kneel and swing Afroxpac 35i unit to the front

2.Open the Afropac 35i and jerk out the mouthpiece plug

3.Pull down the yellow tag

4.Blow three times to five times into the Afropac 35i

5.Fit the mouthpiece and nose clip

6.Fit and adjust the neck strap and waist strap

7.Walk in an orderly manner to a place of safety

 

4.1.3  The duration of the specific escape apparatus will be rated by the manufacturer when the Operated at the ventilation rates of 35 L/min and 50 L/min. The duration ratings shall reflect results recorded before and after the durable test at a temperature of 21º C ± 2° C at a barometric pressure of 85Kpa ± 5Kpa. Furthermore for record purposes, the functional duration of the escape apparatus shall be noted in terms of its performance before and after the durability test sequence as follows:

a) duration at 35 L/min before and after durability testing (Refer to SANS 1737:5.3)

b) duration at 50 L/min before and after durability testing.

 

 

The SCSR selection criteria is based primarily on the 15 minutes travel time from the working place to the nearest Refuge Bays.  The arrangement of the chemicals in the container is known as the chemical bed. The Afroxpac uses the moisture in the user’s breath to generate oxygen from the chemicals.

At the same time the carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed by the chemicals.

The chemical reactions taking place can simply be described as follows:

The predicted levels of visibility is also taken into consideration, hence the Afroxpac does cover the extra time requirements for poor visibility with its extended time of 30-35 minutes.

 

 

4.2  SCSR logistics Management

• The Appointed Section Engineer will be responsible for the full implementation of this procedure.
• A register of all SCR’s must be maintained by the Mine in the Lamp Rooms from where the SCR’S are issued. The register which must be meticulously kept up to date and must contain the following information;

–Make, serial number, date of manufacture and Mine identification number

–Persons allocated to

–Occupation of person allocated to

–Any fault found with a unit during inspections or reported by the user. This register must be made available to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The entries in the register must be entered into the database kept by the OEM for statistical analysis.

• Lamp-room issuing and collection at the beginning of the shift and at the end of the shift. This will be managed by the Appointed Lamps Man and the Lamp Room Staff.
• Checking of SCSR will be the responsibility of the Lamps man and lamp room staff and also the Lamp room Co-ordinator
• The Environmental Superintendent will be responsible for the quality, maintenance and control of the SCRS’S and to ensure that the Lamp Room Attendants are trained. He/she will examine the reports submitted by the company holding the contract for routine inspection and maintenance of the SCR’s as well as the reports from CSIR Miningtek and takes appropriate action as indicated.
• The Environment Department will conduct monthly audits in all lamp rooms evaluating the requirement of this procedure.
• SCSR Purchasing procedures will be done by the Environmental Department in consultation with the Mining Department if there is a need of additional units required in their sections.

 

4.3  Issuing and deployment of SCSRs

4.3.1  Process

• A Labour requisition is completed and send to the HR and MANCO for the required labour to be approved
• Place an order for the total units required to cater for the required labour including the 10% spare units
• Upon receiving the units the OEM will provide the batch testing certificates together with the units
• Allocate the mine controlled number
• Record the relevant units into the Mine SCSR Register
• Allocate to the people concerned.

 

4.3.2  Allocation Measures

• Every underground employee working at the mine is allocated with a personal SCSR number which he/she receives on a daily at the Lamproom. (Refer to SOP 74 Appendix 9)
• Should there be defects encountered to the employee’s allocated unit, a spare unit is then allocated and the affected employee signs for a spare unit from the spare pool Register forms when going in the Mine and also signs off when coming out of the Mine.

 

4.3.3  As mentioned previously in Point 8.3.1 the mine has a spare allocation of 10% readily available

 

4.3.4  The LDSCSR are used by the Proto Teams and they are kept and used by the Proto Teams only.

 

 

4.4  Training of the use of BWSCSRs personnel in

4.4.1  The training centre will be responsible for the training of all new employees, contractors and any mine employees undergoing annual refresher training in the proper use of the SCSR.

When the units need to be donned:

• When there is fire in the general airstream
• When the alarms of the fire detection units (Virocaps or fire detection systems) Beeps above the alarm setting levels
• When instructed to do so by the Supervisors when there is smoke.

‒The training of underground visitors is the responsibility of the HOD who is been visited

–Steps to be followed when using the SCSR are as follow:

a)Swing the unit to the front and kneel

b)Open the Afrox Pac 35i and jerk out the mouthpiece plug

c)Pull down the yellow tag

d)Inflate the breathing bag by blowing into it 3-5 times

e)Fit the mouthpiece and nose clip

f)Fit and adjust the neck and the waist strap

g)Walk in an orderly brisk and calm manner to a place of safety (Refuge Chamber)

‒Donning posters are displayed outside all lamp rooms at all mines

‒Training is done on an Annual Basis

 

 

4.4.2  In the case where any rescue alarms have been triggered the following is to take place:

a)Both the Miner and his Team Leaders are equipped with a Virocap Lamp. Any destress signals will be activated and these people are to warn the workers to don their rescue packs.

b)With cold starts the activation of the yellow strap and the breathing in activates will activate the potassium oxide and thus generating hot air within the breathing bag

c)Drills are conducted on a quarterly basis from the working area to the place of safety i.e. refuge bays

 

 

4.5  Functional Performance Testing

• At BML the ATA conduct a Functional Performance Test of 1% of the total lots of rescue packs deployed on the Mine.
• BML only use Afrox Pack 35 and 35i

 

4.6  Reporting and Recordkeeping

4.6.1  An electronic record keeping is kept at the Environmental Department of all the SCSR units purchased on the mine. Hard Copies are kept at all sections lamp rooms together with the batch testing certificates of the units

 

4.6.2  Once captured on the electronic record keeping, the information are distributed to respective sections for safekeeping and records of allocation are kept at the sections lamp rooms

 

 

4.7  Maintenance, incident management and disposal of SCSRs

4.7.1  Refer to SOP 74: Lamp Rooms Point 4.2

 

4.7.2  The lamps man conducts a daily visual check and a monthly inspection test and by means of a tick to indicate whether such unit has been checked physically. Also on a quarterly basis the OEM conducts a similar inspection together a leak test.

 

4.7.3  Refer to SOP 74: Lamp Rooms Annexure 6. This form is used record any defects on the Unit/s

 

4.7.4  Safe Disposal Procedure which is followed at BML is as such:

a) Units that are damaged/opened are placed in a plastic bag and sealed off due to chemicals inside.

b) The damaged units are sent to the OEM for disposal or repairs

c) BML does not sell or transfer any units to a third party.

 

 

4.8  Instruction Manual on the use of self-contained self-rescuers

BML do provide the following as per the AFROX Instruction Manual and user guide i.e.

• General information;
• SANS 1737 Certification
• Technical information;
• Principles of Operation;
• Description of Apparatus;
• Conditions of Use;
• Service Life;
• Operational Life;
• Risk Assessment;

 

5. PART D: IMPLEMENTATION

5.1  [the employer must prepare an implementation plan for its cop that makes provision for issues such as organizational structures, responsibilities of functionaries and programs and schedules for this cop that will enable proper implementation of the cop. (A summary of / and a reference to, a comprehensive implementation plan may be include.)]

 

A. Organizational Structure of Document Trail

Once this Code of Practice has been accepted and approved, it will be:

a) Published on the MANCO Safety Library.

b) Added to the COP Digital Database (PAR Optimal Solve System) for reference purposes by Approved IT Users.

c) The Training Department and the Safety Department shall be notified immediately, on the publishing of this COP on the Digital Database.

d) Approved hard copies will only be circulated to the following entities, departments and employees,

• The DMR. (Either by registered post or delivered by hand. Acceptance, on delivery, must be by signature.)
• All relevant Managers – (Engineering and Mining) All Section Engineers and Mine Overseers.
• All GEF’s and relevant Shift Supervisors.
• To any Union Member, Health & Safety Representative or Employee Representative on written request to the immediate HOD.
• At all notice boards in relevant sections.

e) HOD’s shall ensure that relevant COP are readily available at each department, whether by having hard copies on-site or whether by having access to the COP/SOP Digital Database.

f) In the case of the Digital Database NOT being available, or cannot be made available, such employees or departments shall draft a written request to the immediate HOD, which in turn, shall immediately arrange to issue the current and approved hard copy update(s), to such individuals or departments.

 

B.Responsibilities of Functionaries

The responsibilities and functions of all relevant departments and supervisors are set out in subsection (2) below.

 

C. Programs & Schedules

All changes to this COP that necessitates changes to downstream documents and procedures shall be implemented as soon as practically possible.

For the purpose of reasonable and adequate communication of the information contained within this Code of Practice, it shall be the duty of the relevant line supervisors to formally discuss this document with all relevant personnel.

 

 

5.2  [Information may be graphically represented to facilitate easy interpretation of the data and to highlight trends for the purpose of a risk assessment]

Whenever it becomes evident that information related to Body Worn Self Contained Self Rescuer (BWSCRS) Technical Aspects & Safety Related Matters, might be better understood if graphically represented, it shall be the responsibility of the management to further investigate the identified issue, and arrange for the necessary steps to be taken to ensure that the identified issue is fully understood by all relevant people.

 

5.3  Compliance with the COP

[The employer must institute measures for monitoring and ensuring compliance with the COP.]

On notification of an update of this COP or any related COP’s, SOP’s, Managerial Instructions or Special Instructions, the following responsibilities shall be effective;

 

 

Responsibilities of the Training Department

• Arrange to update all relevant training material and competency assessments accordingly. Such changes shall be implemented within three (3) consecutive months, following the current date of signatures of the new COP, SOP or Managerial Instruction.
• Evaluate all the changes instituted, and should this evaluation necessitate the retraining of certain employees, then such retraining shall be arranged immediately.

 

5.4  Responsibilities of the Safety Department:

• Arrange to update all relevant Safety Inspections/Audits to accommodate the necessary changes.
• Liaise with the relevant Engineering Department, with regards to changes to the PTO Schedule and current or new PTO’s

 

5.5  The Chief Safety Officer will monitor the progress and forward the document to the drafting committee for review when necessary.

 

Responsibilities of the Engineering Department:

• Update all current PTO’s or draft new PTO’s, to accommodate the necessary changes.
• Update the PTO Schedule to incorporate all new PTO’s.
• Liaise with the Safety Department to issue the new PTO Schedule, including all changed and new PTO’s.

 

5.6  Responsibilities of the Mining Department:

• Update all current PTO’s or draft new PTO’s, to accommodate the necessary changes.

 

5.7  Responsibilities of the Environmental Department:

• Update or reschedule all Audits/Inspections to correspond with this COP and related COP’s or SOP’s.

 

5.8  General Responsibilities (All Departments):

• All relevant equipment, places or facilities shall be revisited to ensure compliance and in the event of any non-compliance, an action programme for making the necessary amendments will be compiled in consultation with the Health and Safety Committee.
• All incumbents responsible to comply with any part of this Code will be re-trained and over- inspected for ongoing compliance.
• Regular inspections shall be performed to assess the effectiveness and implementation of this COP and relevant documentation.
• All relevant employees are responsible for the implementation and compliance with this COP.
• Development of associated Standard Operating Procedures that complies with all aspects covered by this Code of Practice shall be an ongoing process.

 

5.9  Access To The COP And Related Documents

[The employer must ensure that a complete cop and related documents are kept readily available at the mine for examination by any affected person.]

 

Availability of this COP.

• Approved hard copies of this COP and all related documentation shall be made available on request.
• All COP’s, SOP’s and Managerial Instruction shall be published on the Digital Database.

 

5.10  [A registered trade union with members at the mine or where there is no such union, a health and safety representative on the mine, or if there is no health and safety representative, an employee representing the employees on the mine, must be provided with a copy of the written request to the manager. A register must be kept of such persons or institutions with copies to facilitate updating of such copies.]

 

Updated Copies of this COP. 

• Approved hard copies shall be issued to any affected person (e.g. A Union Member, Health & Safety Representative or Employee Representative), but only on written request to the relevant HOD.
• The hard copies referred to in (a) above, shall be obtained from the Digital Database. This will ensure that only the most current version are being printed and issued.
• It shall be the responsibility of each individual being issued with a hard copy, to immediately destroy all previous versions of this document, still in his/her possession.

 

5.11  [The employer must ensure that all employees are fully conversant with those sections of the COP relevant to their respective areas of responsibility.]

 

Briefings & Training on this COP. 

• It shall be the responsibility of all Foremen and Supervisors to formally communicate this COP to his/her subordinates. Attendance of such briefings shall be recorded and kept on file.
• For attendance purposes, all relevant Supervisors shall make use of the attendance register at ANNEX I. This COP must be fully communicated to all personnel as far as practically possible, and a copy of the attendance register to be submitted to the Training Department, within 90 days from the effective date of this COP.
• Should a person be absent from any of the above mentioned briefings, the responsibility shall remain with the Supervisor to ensure that such persons shall be briefed at a later stage.
• It shall be the responsibility of the HOD (Training Department) to ensure that all relevant training documentation is updated after every review of this COP and included into ex-leave induction training.