An Escalating Concern

The Need for On the Go Gas Monitoring

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Gas Standards & Regulations:

By its very nature, mining is a dangerous industry and most of the key challenges involve protecting mine employees from work-related hazards. Higher than accepted gas levels, particularly in underground mining and, more specifically, coal mining, are one of the most common risks, with a two-fold danger of causing fires and explosions, as well as exposing workers to toxic gases. Standards can be mandatory or preferred and each of these can suit different applications. For example, as of 1st July 2011, AS/NZS5601:2010 Gas Installations became the preferred standard in the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Regulation 2004 [1]. Another standard put in place to minimise gas-related risk and exposure is AS/NZS 3584.2:2008 Diesel Engine Systems for Underground Coal Mines - Part 2 Explosion Protected, which promotes the use of new technologies to monitor and reduce diesel particulate and emissions. While Australian Standards are applicable nation-wide, other mining regulations and standards can differ between states and jurisdictions; for example, the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act applies to the Australian Capital Territory, the Commonwealth, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. As of 1 January 2013, these rules will also apply to Tasmania and South Australia [2].

A blaze in Xstrata Coals Blakefield South mine, caused by an ignition of methane gas, resulted in 18 months of downtime.
Fires & Toxic Gas Poisonings
Regulations and standards are put in place to improve health and safety protection measures, but they cannot eliminate gas-related risks. The financial and safety costs of mine fires and explosions have been all too evident in recent years; most recently, a blaze in Xstrata Coals Blakefield South mine, caused by an ignition of methane gas, resulted in 18 months of downtime before work could recommence [3]. Another big mine operator, BMA, was forced to close its Norwich Park mine, in November 2010, due to a breach in health and safety, relating to a gas fire risk. While the presence of combustible gases on mine sites brings obvious risks, the health risks for workers who may be exposed to toxic or asphyxiant gases is also a key safety consideration. Some of the more common gases encountered in mining are methane, carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NO, NO2), hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and sulphur dioxide(SO2) [4]. Carbon monoxide restricts the bodys ability to absorb oxygen and is often considered one of the most dangerous gases as it is colourless and odourless; most recently, in March 2013, 12 miners died from carbon monoxide poisoning in northeast Chinas Heilongjiang province [5]. Closer to home, in Queensland, Thiess suspended operations at certain sections of its Collinsville coal mine after 25 workers were exposed to hazardous gases, in April 2012 [6]. According to CFMEU district president Steve Smyth, these hazardous gases included carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide as well as hydrocarbons such as benzenes [7].

Managing Mining Gas Emissions:

Downtime and health and safety are not the only gasrelated problems facing the mining industry. In recent years, there has been mounting pressure on Australias major mine operators to take more responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions and the potential environmental impact. In September 2012, Australias Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency released a report citing the need for Australias mines to improve their gas emission measurements [8]. While these so called fugitive emissions have, in the past, been difficult to measure, according to the Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, fugitive emissions from coal mining account for around 5% of Australias total greenhouse gases [9].

Fugitive emissions from coal mining account for around 5% of Australias greenhouse gases.

The Solution
With rising fuel costs for thermal gas monitoring systems, Testos new 340 4-sensor and 350 6 - sensor flue gas analyzers offer cost-effective, practical and easy-to-use emission analyzer for a variety of applications. Key design features include: Unique measuring range extension and facilitates measurements, even at high gas concentrations and temperatures. An O2 sensor as standard and additional gas sensors, which can be individually configured so your analyzer is optimally adapted to your measurement job. A compact design combined with reliable engineeringideal for commissioning, service and maintenance work as well as measurements for monitoring purposes. easy emission software data, which can be easily read, conveniently processed, archived and managed.
[1] Introduction of AS/NZS5601:2010 Gas Installations, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland Government, 2011 [2] For a summary of the regulatory frameworks for mining in each jurisdiction, as well as more information on the process for developing these regulations, please see the Mining section of the Work Safe Australia website: http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/whsinformation/mining/pages/mining [3] Xstrata Coal resumes operations at Blakefield South mine, 30th May 2012, http://www. xstrata.com/media/news/2012/05/30/1115CET/ [4] Explosive gases associated with mining, Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, Government of Western Australia, November 2005 [5] Carbon Monoxide Kills 12 in NE China Mine, Chinadaily.com.cn, 31 January 2013 [6]Coal mining resumes after hazardous gas leaks, Australian Mining Magazine, 11th April 2012 [7] Steve Smyth. District President, Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), 2012 [8] Department issues coal seam gas emissions warning, Sydney Morning Herald, 21st September 2012 [9] Quarterly Update of Australias National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, September 2012

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