This guideline should be used by anyone planning or conducting underground mining, particularly those persons responsible for the occupational health of workers.
Fire is a serious hazard in mines and outbreaks of fire underground can be particularly dangerous due to the:
- confined nature of excavations
- potential quantity of smoke and noxious fumes
- restricted ability to evacuate quickly from the mine.
Employers have a duty of care to provide and maintain a safe working environment.
The prevention of fires is a priority for underground mines as they can lead to entrapment, smoke inhalation, serious or fatal burns, asphyxiation and other serious consequences such as explosions.
All underground mines should have a documented underground fire risk assessment that is current and specific to its operations, with appropriate controls in place to manage the risks. This guideline will assist employers and mine operators to:
- prevent the outbreak of fires in underground mines in Western Australia
- minimise the effects should a fire occur.