ENVIRONMENT

Tyre explosion after lightning strikes injures two miners

MINES should review their severe weather or lightning trigger action response plans that manage the risk to coal mine workers from rubber tyred mobile plant during lightning storms, the Queensland Mines Inspectorate has warned.

Two coal miners received injuries as a result of a lightning strike at a Queensland surface mine.

Two coal miners received injuries as a result of a lightning strike at a Queensland surface mine.

Two coal miners received injuries as a result of a lightning strike at a Queensland surface mine.

The mine had stopped production due to wet weather towards the end of the dayshift.

The mobile mining equipment was driven to a purpose built in field parking area and parked up.

The nightshift commenced their pre-start at the crib huts adjacent to the parking area, while waiting for the wet weather to ease.

The lightning TARP was initiated while the pre-start was underway.

A coal mine worker in the crib hut for the pre-start meeting saw lightning strike a truck in the park-up area.

Shortly afterwards, the position 5 tyre on the truck exploded.

The concussion and tyre fragments from the blast shattered windows in the crib huts, dislodged air conditioners, lights and water tanks from their fixtures.

Two coal mine workers received injuries requiring first aid treatment.

The crib huts were considered to be a place of safety during severe weather and lightning.

"Assess the most appropriate methods of protecting coal mine workers from the consequences of tyre explosions and appropriate methods of preventing lighting strikes to mobile plant at park up locations," QMI said.

"Rubber tyred mobile plant cannot be considered as a place of safety during a lightning storm. Care must be taken where these vehicles are parked during a lightning storm so as not to create a hazard for coal mine workers, buildings or structures."

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions