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Beaconsfield Mine Disaster ! (What Happened? (In 2006 a small earthquake…
Beaconsfield Mine Disaster !
What Happened?
In 2006 a small earthquake created a disaster. The Tasmanian mien collapsed trapping 2 miners whilst 14 managed to escape and 1 being instantly killed.
The two miners survives by drinking groundwater and sharing half a muesli bar. Rescuers managed to get close enough to them that they were able to be sent supplies whilst it took another week to free them.
The mind dug a 36 metre long rescue tunnel through stable rock, which involved drilling and blasting, bolting and strapping. This was a slow process
Peter. V (2016) Beaconfields Mine Disaster on Film, Available at:
https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/60-minutes-reveals-unseen-beaconsfield-mine-disaster-footage-20160418-go8y2g.html
(Accessed: 21st September 2018).
Darren Flanagan (2017) Beaconsfield Rescue, Available at:
https://nswsafetyconference.com.au/story-darren-flanagan-beaconsfield-rescue/(Accessed
: 21st September 2018).
Why did it happen?
The collapse was due to an earthquake that triggered an underground rock fall
2.2 magnitude earthquake.
Better underground support may have reduced the chances of rock fall however it is believed that after such a seismic event its unlikely that it could have been completely prevented.
N/A (2018) Beacons Disaster, Available at:
https://www.smh.com.au/national/beaconsfield-disaster-unpreventable-20070906-gdr1ek.html
(Accessed: 21st September 2018).
Nature of system and system parts
Mines are a natural resource and in this case for the purpose of Gold. System parts are a huge factor of mining as this involves many of the machinery and tools used to make mining happen. Although gold mining started with people panning in amor gold in stream beds, today it has advanced to a great extent. We do this by using lots of machinery and research and engineering. This machinery allows us to be able to go deep enough so that we can take big truck down through the earth. In the instance of Beaconsfield mine they were at about 925 m down working with lots of machinery and equipment.
design failures and system life cycle
design failures in this specific event is found to be extremely little as Investigator Greg Melick said "it is unlikely that a fall after such a seismic event could have been completely prevented . He also stated that "it is not possible to design a support system to prevent all damage from the consequences of high magnitude seismic activity that occurs when In such close proximity. That indicates that the incident didn't come down to design failure more a natural accident
There was suspicion that if the mine design at 925 metres had allowed for 10 metre pillars or ground support had been installed to greater depths that the outcome could have been more positive
If the Beaconsfield Gold mine had a design in place that could withstand seismic events of magnitude no doubt would there have been a less chance of the ground support at 925 metres failing.
N/A (2018) Beacons Disaster, Available at:
https://www.smh.com.au/national/beaconsfield-disaster-unpreventable-20070906-gdr1ek.html
(Accessed: 21st September 2018).
They system Life Cycle
The life cycle of mimes has grown substantially over hundreds of years. This includes the improvement of equipment, workers, workplace health and safety and the efficiency of mining..
The basic life cycle of developing a mine as such involves a couple of steps
Exploration and Feasibility
With in this step it involves discovering and sampling the purpose for the mine as well as the economic feasibility of mining
Planning and Construction
This involves basic planning for the mine, so the environmental and social planning. The closure plan and the environmental assessments and permits. Construction will also take place in this step, including clearing and stripping the area. Blasting if needed.
Operations
This will include more construction work like crushing, grinding, concreting. It will also involve getting rid of waste rock and callings management and waste water.
Closure
This is the last step in getting the mine prepared and ready. Site clean-up, reclamation and rehabilitation. Maintenance and environmental monitoring will also be done and continued to be done .
N/A (2017) Mining Life cycle, Available at:
https://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/default.asp?lang=En&n=CBE3CD59-1&offset=4
(Accessed: 21st September 2018).
issues and findings related to people, workplaces and management
To a certain extent very minimal issues were found when related to the the people, workplace and management of the Beaconsfield Gold mine. It was determined that the earthquake was the main culprit for the falling of that area of the mine.
Rather than an issue but more a recommendation that was learnt from this experience was from lead investigator who said that an installation of geotechnical-engineered ground support systems to withstand future seismic events would be highly valuable for the workplace to decrease the chance of a situation like this again.
all workers were found to be follow procedure and not doing anything that they shouldn't have when the earthquake happened.
The workspace was actually called the safest possible workplace at the time of the accident by Bill Colvin.Giving us moree information to believe that the situation was mainly due to the earthquake and there wasn't to many issues that made out to be relevant to the death and trapping of the two workers.
N/A (2018) Beacons Disaster, Available at:
https://www.smh.com.au/national/beaconsfield-disaster-unpreventable-20070906-gdr1ek.html
(Accessed: 21st September 2018).