Simtars is a business unit of the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines and offers a range of training, testing and other services. Simtars recently launched Segas Professional, a software tool for evaluating gas atmospheres in underground coal mines.
The two organizations said the purpose of the agreement was to bring together their experiences and skills to provide a more complete service and solution to the industry as a whole.
In a statement the organizations said the move would not compromise their normal services and that both would maintain their corporate identity.
“The aim of this agreement is to provide a safety and operational efficiency based service which will tend to focus on, but would be restricted to underground coal mining,” the companies said. “This service would be an enhancement to the existing services offered by IMC and Simtars.”
The services they aim to offer will include mine safety and risk assessments tailored to individual requirements. This would include development of safe working procedures and assessing a mine’s position regarding training.
A second service would be auditing and review of mine safety management plans and the development of associated safety procedures. This would include mine emergency evacuation training and conducting of exercises.
IMC and Simtars will also offer mine ventilation planning, evaluation of systems and trouble-shooting. These could include pressure quantity surveys, mine ventilation modelling, and training in taking ventilation/gas readings.