The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has disclosed the entire health safety regime of the mining sector is being reviewed following the Appiatse explosion on January 10, 2022.
A Health and Safety Committee, he said, has been established for that purpose but indicated new measures have been instituted to prevent a recurrence of the tragic incident while the Committee completes its work.
The new measures include:
1. Explosives shall only be transported on a public road from the operational site of a company, after the company has given the Chief Inspector of Mines or the Regional Mines Inspector, at least, forty-eight (48) hours’ prior notice, to enable the requisite inspection and certification to be carried out, before the transportation of the explosives to a mine or quarry site.
2. A Mine/Explosives Inspector shall be present, inspect, verify and record in the designated explosives log book for transportation, that all the requisite safety requirements, rules and protocols have been met before explosives are transported from the operational site of a company to a mine or quarry site.
3. An Inspector of Mines/Explosives shall physically inspect the explosives truck (road vehicle) to ensure that the explosives truck is in good working condition in accordance with the truck examination list and that the Truck driver has Professional Driving Licence to drive the vehicle before the loading of the explosives into the truck.
4. Explosives trucks must have:
a. A red flashing light clearly visible at least Hundred metres (100m) away;
b. A klaxon or siren, hooter or automatically operated bell;
c. Automatic fire suppression system alongside the fire extinguishers;
d. Tracking system to monitor the speed and movement of the explosives truck;
e. Integrated monitoring system to check driver fatigue;
f. Megaphone to warn people or bystanders in case of danger;
g. Drive cameras to monitor the explosives truck drivers.
5. Before the explosives truck takes off from the operational site of a company, the waybill for the transportation shall be endorsed by an Inspector of Mines/Explosives who shall be satisfied that the explosives are under the direct control of a person who has a certificate of competency in accordance with Regulation 15 (2) of the Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations, 2012 (L.I.2177).
6. The Escort Vehicle shall be inspected and all the details recorded in the Inspectors Field Book by an Inspector of Mines/Explosives on the day the explosives are to be transported.
7. Escort vehicles must have:
a. A red flashing light clearly visible at least fifty metres (50m) away; and
b. A klaxon or siren or hooter or automatically operated bell.
8. The transportation of explosives on public roads shall have two (2) Escorts: one (1) leading the explosives truck and maintaining a distance of, at least, fifty metres (50m) and, at most, sixty metres (60m), from the vehicle carrying the explosives, with a Uniformed and Armed Police Officer, and the other behind the explosives truck and maintaining a distance of, at least, twenty metres (20m) and, at most, thirty metres (30m), with an Unarmed but Uniformed Police Officer.
9. Competent persons accompanying explosives trucks shall notify the Regional Inspector of Mines in the Region upon arriving at their destinations and indicate the arrival times in a designated log book for that purpose.
10. Competent persons accompanying Explosives shall be trained in the Code of Safe Working Practice for the transportation of Explosives along Public Roads, developed by the Explosives Manager and approved by an Inspector of Miners, and the Code shall be carried by the competent person accompanying each transportation.
11. The transportation of Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) on a public road to a mine or quarry site has been prohibited, unless expressly authorised in writing by the Chief Inspector of Mines/Explosives.
All relevant stakeholders, he said, have been engaged on these new measures, and the Minerals Commission has also been directed to ensure strict compliance with same.
Mr. Jinapor explained that upon receipt of the Report of the Health and Safety Committee of Inquiry, the Ministry will institute additional measures and if it becomes necessary to ensure the transportation of explosives poses no risk to life and property.
Source: Mypublisher24.com