Document zbR8yLoaV5wxJRvqNg4kbkEB0

FILE NAME Colonial Sugar Refinery CSR DATE 1961 Nov 6 DOC CSR046 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Letter to Wittenoom Manager from Mines Dept Stating the Dust Conditions there are a Serious Health Hazard to Workers & Aren't being Addressed aae The Manager Australian Blue WITTENOOM Asbestos Pty MINES DEPARTMENT . Ltd. KALGOORLIE ald = 6th November 1961 y @ 7 . Dear Sir . prevalent Inspections and tests made at your mine have proved that dust to your Mining and Milling Sections threatens or tends to the bodily injury of persons in or about your mine up This dust menace from Mill tailings is also aggravated by dust arising from areas built employed Medical examinations of workers who on your properties at Wittencom have is present either are shown that employed or have a dangerous dust been . menarce > of Mines As for you are aware a party comprising myself the District Inspector Ventilation and the District Inspector and the Workmen's Inspector of Mines for the West Pilbarra Goldfields have now between us completed inspections and examinations of your mine workings veg ) - This party was brought by me to Wittenoom to examine the progress of your dust control projects to oRbetgaiisntered position and to impress on you as information of the present overall Manager and Senior Representative extremely of Australian and dangerous Blue Asbestos Pty Ltd. at Wittenoom position which is present the serious ee el , I have noted the work carried out by you and your departmental officers and appreciate that you have with apparently limited resources continued to attempt to control the dust menace Our examinations have shown the dust menance as follows has not declined and , that notwithstanding your continuous work requests therefore I must confirm my verbal 1. By Virtue of Section 22 of the Mines Regulation Act No. 54 of 1946 I request | that immediate and complete work and methods be undertaken and continued to | eradicate the dust menance on and in your Mining Tenements in the Hammersly Ranges | I must also refer you to Section 49 of the said Act which includes " i he shall not use anything or work in a place that is unsafe or apparently unsafe \ If the request is not immediately and satisfactorily attended I will have no on -- 2 The requirement of Regulation 150 of the Mines Regulation Act and Regulations must be fulfilled it's entirety Referring to section 2 of this Regulation I now inform you that a b Whilst the present method of underground Mining continues water must jets be used at all times at all places where dust is generated generated Those places include all faces after firing all scraper ways when in use all chutes ore passes and ore transfer points places Similar all of same jets must also be installed and used in the Milling Sections at where dust is escaping into the air and where the installation will not interefere with treatment Dust arising from tailings at the tailings bin tailings dump and all up areas built with mill tailings is a muisance to persons emuloved on . fu P| the 4 Much dust is still escaping from the Mill sections and also from Mill Dust control unit exhausts This dust ontering the Mill buildings and entering is polluting the atmosphere the mine workings It is apparent that the present operation of your dust control unit is inefficient or insufficient , unhealthy conditions If work is not put in hand immediately to prevent all dust escaping into the atmosphere I will be reluctantly compelled to take the necessary action to prevent men being exposed to I reiterate my offer of assistance in overcoming this dust menace and whilst refusing to become entangled in domestic matters I must advise | you that in my opinion the menace will not be eliminated whilst your underground present method of mining continues and until a completely method of dust control and new prevention is i _ , undertaken in the milling Tt sections - undertaken undertaken undertaken undertaken Aree ee ny eee eel not and I will hesitate to continuous be maintaining close contact with take the necessary drastic action the position and will if progress is not quick @ 4 oy Yours faithfully SENIOR J. BOYLAND INSPECTOR OF MINES Australian Blue Asbestos Pty Ltd. Dear Sir work carriedout by continued to attempt immediate of Mines Regulation Act sttended mine and will have no alternative the dust continued continued to eradicate undertaken and in your Tenements in the Hammersly Renges of the said Act Sectio4n9 must also refer you to not use anything or work in ut nsaf h e oe r appsahralelntly unssfe satisfactorily is not immediately and If the request the other thm to declare I mill as unsafs The requirement of RegulationRegulation 150 of thi enMiitn'ess fulfilled : 2 must be section 2 of this Regulation I now acraper ways when in use : and ore transfer points b must installation also be installed and used Similar Jets - at all places where in the Milling Sections and where the dust is escapo if ngsa im ne towitlhl e ano it r interfere with treatment tailings at the tailings Dust arising from and all areas built up bin tailings dump nuisance to persons tailings is a vicinity and with mill them and in their employed on their health and such places . detrimental to or sealed to ; must be constantly sprayed " effectively lay the dust escaping from the Mill sections 3 Much dust is still control unit exhausts This dust the Mill Dust the Mill buildings - and also from is polluting the atmosphere, entering It is apparent that the and entering the mi onfeywoo ur rkdiunsgts control unit is inefficient or present operation insufficient immediately to prevent If work is not put in hand I will be reluntantly all dust escaping into the atmosphere action to prevent men being to take the necessary compellet do unhealthy conditions exposed of assistance in overcoming this offer domestic I reiterate my to become entangled in dust menace and whilst refusing that in my opinion the menace will matters I must advise you whilst your present method of underground oo of dust not be eliminated until a completely new method mining continues and is undertaken in the milling sections control and prevention close contact with the position .. I will be maintaining drastic action if and will not hesitate t ao ndta ck oenttihneuonuescessary : progress is not quick Yours faithfully SENIOR INSPECTOR INSPECTOR OF WINES