Get to grips with mine fire risks and responses

Ken Thomas is the director at Total Fire Solutions, a fire suppression systems provider in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. He says his vision is to create a 'one-stop shop' fire protection company committed to NSW and Queensland mining and heavy industry. He has provided some pointers highlighting key fire prevention and control measures for the mining industry. Mine fires can be devastating for any mining project. These fires often vary in size and intensity depending on the conditions that led to their break out and the fuel sources available. The threat of mine fires should be taken seriously as they can endanger the lives of mining staff, damage mining equipment, and compromise the structural integrity of the mine itself. Preventing fires in mines Nobody wants to be caught in an underground mine shaft or inside a mine pit when a fire breaks out. So mining companies need to take the right steps to prevent these fires from starting in the first place. Here are some ways to prevent fires in mines: Train staff to identify fire hazards Fires usually break out when fuel, oxygen, and heat are put together. The odds of a fire breaking out can be reduced by removing any one of these components from your work site. It’s difficult and impractical to remove oxygen from your work sites, so fuel and heat sources are what you need to be aware of. Your staff should be given proper fire training so that they can identify, report, and/or remove potential fuel sources around the mining site. Obvious fuel sources such as petrol, oil, and wood are easy to identify; however, fire training can teach your staff to spot lesser-known fuel sources such as coal dust and combustible metals that can lead to fires. Most companies perform fire risk assessments regularly, but your staff should still look out for fire hazards on an on-going basis to reduce the likelihood of fires breaking out in between inspection dates. Avoid activities that lead to fires Some fires break out spontaneously when the right conditions are in place, but many blazes are triggered by mining activities themselves. An overheating piece of equipment may come into contact with a flammable oil and create a fire. If workers spot any potential fuel sources that could come into contact with equipment, they should stop their activities immediately. The fuel source should be removed before activities are permitted to resume. Alternatively, the activity could be carried out in a different manner that reduces the likelihood of a fire breaking out. Controlling fires in mines Some fires will still occur at mining sites despite the best efforts of mine operators and staff. Operators can reduce the impact of these fires by extinguishing or containing them as soon as possible. Here are some tips to control fires in mines. Fire protection systems All mines are fitted with some form of a fire protection system. These systems are designed to warn the staff if a fire breaks out at the worksite. It’s impractical for mining companies to set up automatic fire protection systems in all areas of their mining site. Instead, these systems should be set up in areas that have a significant fire risk. These include fuel storage areas, combustible material storage rooms, and power substations. If a fire breaks out at one of these sites, the fire protection system will detect the smoke from the blaze and notify mining staff using an alarm. Other fire protection systems can be installed in underground sites that are prone to fires. These include thermal monitoring systems that can detect if a fire has broken out in a particular region along a mining shaft or tunnel. Fires are easier to contain when they have been detected early, so fire protection systems are essential at all mining sites. Fire suppression systems Fire protection systems are often paired with fire suppression systems. These systems aim to extinguish or slow down the spread of fires at the mining site. Automatic sprinkler systems are one of the most commonly used fire suppression systems. However, gaseous suppression systems are also frequently used in the mining industry. These consist of gaseous extinguishing agents that are stored under pressure in cylinders. The system is connected to a network of pipes and nozzles that release the extinguishing agent onto the blaze. These gaseous fire suppression systems are often used to extinguish fires that occur on or around electrical equipment. They do not leave a residue after being discharged, so they are less likely to damage the electrical equipment they are being used to save. Fire extinguishers When all else fails, staff can use fire extinguishers to try and contain a mine fire. Fire extinguishers should be set up at any location where there is a potential fire risk. This equipment should also be inspected and tested regularly to ensure that they are in working order during an emergency. All mining staff should be trained to use fire extinguishers in an emergency. The largest fires often start small and grow in size with time. If staff can put out a fire while it is still small using a fire extinguisher, they may be able to protect other mine workers and equipment from a potentially large blaze. These are just a few of the many ways in which mining companies protect their staff and operations from fires. It’s important to remember that fires can still break out despite your best preventative efforts. In these situations, your staff should know how to contain a fire and/or get to safety. Proper fire training can teach your staff to respond to mine fires appropriately and slow down their spread. This training should be given to every new employee, and training drills should be conducted regularly to ensure that all employees are familiar with fire safety. - Total Fire Solutions

Get to grips with mine fire risks and responses

Industry Queensland

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