Document Qk8X5N4RZG0662GzBOVOBmONE

FILE NAME Colonial Sugar Refinery CSR DATE 1951 Aug 21 DOC CSR151 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Govt Inspection Results - Australian Blue Asbestos Mine - Wittenoom Same we oe eel ee ete saath. PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT 10269.0 it State Mining Engineer Mines Department PERTH 48 KALGOORLIF 21st August 1951 Ventilation - AustBr lueaAsl besi tosaMin ne - Sittenoon A visit was made to the sebestos mine operated by . Australian Blue Asbestos Ltd. at Wittenoom and underground workings and treatment plant inspected The attached sheets give the tabuletion of dust counts and temperature readings recorded In conjunction with the ventilation officer of the air mine an air survey was completed and the accompanying plan gives - direction and volume of air flow temperature readings and dust counte recorded in the air channels discussed discussed with The following pointe the mine manager Mr. engaged my attention and Paul Thomas were Underground fair volume of air 13,560 c.f.m. enters the mine through the South haulage adit on the upper aern but ofter flowing approximately 300 feet this volume diminishes to 11,560 c.f.m. and after another 400 ft the initial volume is diminished to 6,250 c.f.A. closing less than half the volume which enters the mine at this particular entrance Brattices in poor condition and faulty stopping allow this good air to escape through old workings and short circuit to the exhaus fan Some of the doors used as stoppings and regulators to the flow of sir are of poor construction and buckled considerably due to concussion from explosions during firing Some doors need scuipping with a closing device .g strong springs especially noted wes a door near the battery charging station fr Thomas in rebpulty htoadthsiisn suggestion said that a self device had been fitted disappeared and suggested theft On through winze ating the workings mein exhaust fan the lower seam 27,260 c.f.m. enters the mine und connections flow to the upper seam therby ventilon the northern side This air is exhausted by the Intake air fi * Upper Seem Lower SeaM 13,560 27.260 c.f.m. Total Intake air 40,820 c.f.Q. Exhaust Air Measured past fen s 39,930 39,930 c.f.m. c.f.m. Since it is necessary that the mabestos when mine^ should not be wet the amount of dust Especially is this noticed where the pockets by scraper boists The hoist Respiratore are on order and will be particles in the sir is high ore is scraned into ading | operator is subjected to this issued to the hoist onerators ; when received dur Venturi ducte end cloth It was noted that 6"dien steel pipes were in use for considerable distances from the fan Thes pipes are very satisfactory in resisting damage due to firing but high the loss of efficiency by the fan due to friction loss is + and decresse in volume of sir supplied is great Therefore the use of th cloths 6 diam steel pipes is unwarranted Mr. Thomas anys they are endeavouring to secure 10 diam rubberised venturi ) : t . -.: 2 47 tera and most Venturi ducts and cloth were not suspended to the walls were lying on the floor of the workings Cloths were not working face end in no case were they nearer than 15 ft distance varied being up to approximately 70 ft in the cases up to the and this No. 4 Drivo on the Upper Seam . The selection of the position of the electric used i ventilating the working face in development ends some cases In the particular case of the 2 L Drive the fan in shand of an to the upper sean end this causes the air to be recirculated was poc opening The ventilating of stopes requires attention The use secondary mechanical ventilation is urged where one section of the is advanced more than 10 ft past the general face of the atope of ste Ventilation Officer At the time of my visit the surveyor was filling the position of ventilation officer The appointment of a permanent office is a necessity Ventilation on this mine needs more supervision se evidenced by the incorrect selection of fan sites as instanced above The recording of temperatures and action necessary when they are found to be too great is of great importance and if possible dust comples should be taken More supervision should be given by bosses to the necessity for keeping venturi cloths up to the face and the operation of the miners also obtained ago By comparing the results of dust samples taken Auring this visit those taken by Mr. Lloyd in September 1950 it will be seen that conditions have improved The improvement is probably due t the installation of a Farman dust collector wet and fans which exhaust to atmosphere above the mill building The area in the vicinity of the treatment plent appears very dusty and is probably due to the exhaust from the fans in the plant drifting down or being forced down by the wind The situation of the plant in respect to the wells of the gorge may cause the wind to bear down It was suggested that more lengths of ductes would corr the exhaust dust higher and in come messure eliminate the dust muisar Changehouse Several drawings of changerooms me in use in Kelzoorlie were obtained and supplied to the mine discussed and information required was changeroom appears to be too small for another building will be required The superintendent They were supplied The present . the mumber of men using it an selection of a site for the new changeroom seems to be the major problem General = On examination of the dust samples both from undergrou and the treatment plant the emount of fibre visible Some samples appear to have no fibre present and an percentage of fibre present in the air would be very is very smell estimate of the difficult to me The development feces are taken over on average of 7 ft high by 8 ft wide end contain only a total of 2 inches of fibre it a height of 18 to 24 inches This gives about 2.57 by area AS sabestoo In stope faces taken 3 ft 6 inches high and 8 ft mi^ the percentage of fibre rises to % Whilst boring machine miner endeavours not to bore the fibre and thus he is subjected to very little attack by the fib The country rock surrounding the fibre is considered variously as a ferruginous quartzite or ferruginous sandstone both of which rocks have a high silica content 3 1 4+ mine The high temperatures mencured at working placen in the can be attributed mainly to two factore bogged 1 The lack of the use of weter on the walls becks of working places and on the broken dirt either left bogged or being 2 The neglect by miners to keep the venturi clotha to the working places and a lack of supervision in this matter = up be improved byIat ttenistiofnetlotthat that genera conl ditlioy ns _ gew nero alluy_l woud ld water in the mine could be the above matters greatuse e orf incorporated in the treatmenatchipelvaendtif a procene_of_fibre drying WAS Since my visit to the mine The Senior Inspector of Mines has been advised that Mr. K. McMahon has been appointed Ventileti Officer attached to the company It is hoped that this appointment will have the effect of improving supervision and installation of . ventilating appliances .