Increase in number of fires reported underground

Fires represent a significant proportion of all notifiable incidents reported to NSW Mine Safety by the NSW mining industry. NSW Mine Safety has analysed reports of fires on mechanical plant in underground metalliferous mines for the period 2008 to 2012.

During this period there has been an increase in the number of fires reported. This is disconcerting as any fire in an underground mine has the potential to harm people from the fire itself or from the products of combustion.

Mines are encouraged to read the analysis in parallel with a review of their own fire incident records to identify areas for improvement that are specific to their mine.

NSW Trade & Investment Mine Safety has published a safety bulletin - SB13-05 Too many underground fires - that contains 16 recommendations and an incident analysis report.

For further details, visit www.resources.nsw.gov.au/safety.