20974 29Metals AR23 WEB V1 - Flipbook - Page 44
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29Metals 2023 Annual Report
Safe and inclusive workplace continued
Case study
Initiatives to reduce or prevent toxic exposure and health risks
During the Reporting Period, new measures were adopted
at both 29Metals operations to further improve hygiene performance,
including new monitoring and management equipment.
Capricorn Copper
Real time monitoring (silica/dust)
■
Real-琀椀me monitors, in conjunc琀椀on with GoPro footage, are
used to assess ac琀椀vi琀椀es and iden琀椀fy spikes in dust exposure
during hygiene tes琀椀ng. This approach enables a precise
evalua琀椀on of tasks contribu琀椀ng to exposure, that allows
us to iden琀椀fy targeted controls to reduce exposure levels.
■
Increased training and awareness (silica/dust).
■
Regular safety presenta琀椀ons emphasising dust management
prac琀椀ces, including measures such as watering down,
suspending ac琀椀vi琀椀es when dust control is challenging,
and the proper use of Respiratory Protec琀椀ve Equipment
(‘RPE’). This training enhances awareness and adherence
of safety protocols.
Esperanza South sub-level cave (ESS) gas management
following flooding (toxic gases)
■
Precau琀椀ons were taken following the Extreme Weather
Event18 with gas monitors required at all 琀椀mes, due to
the possible reac琀椀on of the water with the sulphide ores.
No gases have been detected to date.
■
Chiller Plant (heat reduc琀椀on).
■
The Mammoth mine chiller plant has been connected to
mains power and will operate full 琀椀me during the ho琀琀est
months of the year from October un琀椀l the end of April to
minimise the risk of heat related illness in lower sec琀椀ons of
the underground mining areas.
Heat monitoring
■
Temperature and humidity monitors that collect data every
15 minutes have been installed in loca琀椀ons underground.
Data will be analysed to assess the rate of change due to
seasonal factors and produc琀椀on ac琀椀vi琀椀es such that controls
including schedule management or adjustments to ven琀椀la琀椀on
may be made.
Golden Grove
Ventilation upgrades (booster fan project)
■
Excava琀椀on of a fan chamber for new booster fans to
increase volumetric 昀氀ows into Xantho Extended, the
Group’s highest-grade ore source, was implemented in
Q1 and commissioning of the newly installed booster fans
started in Q3 of the Repor琀椀ng Period. This ven琀椀la琀椀on
upgrade, combined with already completed de-bo琀琀lenecking
projects, is expected to progressively enable higher mining
rates from Xantho Extended over the next two years.
Regular ven琀椀la琀椀on system informa琀椀on sessions are held
during the daily shi昀琀 start mee琀椀ngs.
■
Upgrades to mine control monitoring (e.g., CCTV on
key regulators) have been installed.
■
Opera琀椀onal documents used by Supervisors/Operators
for area/equipment management have been reviewed
and updated.
In 2024, Golden Grove will implement:
■
A Management and Quality System (‘MaQS’)
(for air quality monitoring).
■
Permanent air quality monitoring sta琀椀ons will be
installed underground once received.
■
Integra琀椀on of equipment loca琀椀on technology and vent
systems to manage 昀氀eet (e.g., vent doors interlocked
with loca琀椀on tracking to open/not open if the equipment
capacity for an area is under/overcapacity) – Engineering
controls has been scoped and is currently under review by
relevant management teams.
18. Refer to: “Impact of Extreme Rainfall on Capricorn Copper Opera琀椀ons” released to the ASX announcements pla琀昀orm on 9 March 2023; “Capricorn Copper
Opera琀椀ons Update” released to the ASX announcements pla琀昀orm on 15 March 2023; and “Strategic Update” released to the ASX announcements pla琀昀orm on
23 May 2023.
