The achievements of these miners were celebrated with more than 400 industry peers at last night’s awards dinner, showcasing some of the best examples of leading practices, devices and systems across NSW that make the industry world class.
The Innovation Award went to Centennial’s fit-for-purpose underground boot.
With assistance from bootmaker Blundstone, personnel at Centennial designed and tested a boot that provided support, stability control, comfort and prevented all water ingress.
The shortfalls of existing footwear available for use in wet underground mines are well known. Gumboots protect against water but lack ankle and arch support, are uncomfortable and generate excessive heat.
Leather boots support the arch and ankle, yet leak water into the boot.
These issues expose workers to health and safety risks.
“The fit-for-purpose underground boot from Centennial Coal fundamentally changes how a mining boot is made and addresses an age old health and safety problem,” NSW Department of Resources and Energy director of mine safety operations Rob Regan said.
Centennial nailed the risk management process and understood the detail from the problem through to the solution.”
The People’s Choice award went to Yancoal’s Ashton Coal operations for its BREASI Valve.
The BREASI Valve is designed to prevent the inadvertent movement of an underground diesel machine attached to an external compressed air line.
It ensures that the park brake stays on when an air line is attached, preventing a machine being driven away. It cuts the potential for injury caused by an unexpected release of compressed air or a recoiling hose.
The Highly Commended award went to Centennial Coal’s Newstan colliery for its remote high-voltage switching innovation.
Through the implementation of an engineered control, Newstan Colliery has eliminated the potential for injury to operators by designing and installing a mechanical remote-operating panel located outside of the arc-blast risk zone and direct line of sight.
The design allows the operator to safely operate the “no volt coil” and “close circuit” function from the safety of a remote location.
NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said the winners reflected the priority that modern mining operations placed on safety and innovation, and confirms the world-class status of our NSW mining sector.
“Our innovation awards encourage NSW miners to identify areas where health and safety can be improved, and then develop and road-test solutions that can be adopted at other operations,” he said.
“All award entries were of a high standard and the end results are many tools, applications and techniques that have the potential to be shared across the industry and the community.”
