Safety alert: non-compliant gas monitors

Workers in the NSW mining and extractives industry are advised that the Nautitech (NTMS) RapidSense Exia methane gas detection unit has been identified by the Resources Regulator as using a different housing to the unit that was tested and design registered. The modified design has not been registered.

Work health and safety legislation requires the design of devices used to determine or monitor the presence of gas to be registered by the Resources Regulator if they are used at an underground coalmine. The design of an item cannot be modified from the registered design, unless the altered design is registered. The altered design cannot be registered if it does not comply with the applicable standard.

The NSW Government Resources Regulator issued a Safety Alert that said the Nautitech Rapid Sense gas detection units, covered by design registration MDR141807 GD, have now been identified in use with a modified housing fitted to the detector. The design registration number MDR141807 GD appears on the non-compliant housing on the gas detection unit.

The Resources Regular recommends that plant fitted with Nautitech RapidSense Exia methane detection systems should be inspected and verified to ensure that the housing covering the detector module conforms to the design registration.

The NSW Government Resources Regulator Safety Alert can be downloaded here.