GAS AT BLACKBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1927, Page 7

GAS AT BLACKBALL

INADEQUATE VENTILATION MINE MANAGERS FINED Of considerable interest to the mining industry was a case heard at the Greymouth Court before Mr. W. Meldrum, S.M., to-day, when breaches of the Mining Act were alleged against the managers of the Blackball mine, James Neilson and William Parsonage. The proceedings were taken by Mining Inspector O. J. Davis, the charge against each defendant being that, on June 30, at the Blackball mine, he did fail to produce in such mine, at a time when there were persons therein, an adequate amount of ventilation to dilute and render harmless noxious gases to such an extent that all roads, levels, and workings were in-a fit state for working and passing therein, contrary to Section 91 (1) and (2) of the Coal Mines Act, 1925. Mr. J. W. Hannan represented the defendants, and pleaded guilty. Inspector Davies said that for some time past the ventilation had been below the standard required by law. Samples were taken and the managers were notified that if things did not improve they would be prosecuted. Another examination 'showed 1.84 per cent, and 1.48 per cent, of carbondioxide gas in two working places. The Act allowed a maximum of only 1 per cent. Mr. Hannan said it was admitted that in two working places a little under 2 per cent, of carbon-dioxide gas was shown, but in other places there was more than the required 20 per cent, of oxygen. He understood that everything possible was being done to make the ventilation adequate. So far as carbon-dioxide was concerned, it was not an explosive gas. Although the Act provided for not more than 1 per cent., it was contended that 2 per cent, or even 3 per cent, of the gas would not be harmful. It was impossible for the managers to tell what percentage was present, without an analysis being made. The samples had to be sent to Wellington. The only way they could account for the accumulation of gas was that a door might possibly have been left open by someone passing through. Mr. Parsonage was in the particular working places two hours before the Inspector took samples, and the ventilation was then quite all right. The deputy who came off shift at 2 p.m. also reported that the ventilation was all right. The examination was made by the Inspector about 3 p.m. William Parsonage said he was in the working places with the examining deputy two hours before the Inspector’s visit, and the miners then made no complaint. Before going into one place, he found that a brattice door had been interfered with, but by whom he could not say. He replaced the door. The ventilation in the particular place mentioned was better than it had. been for weeks, and the deputy reported that it was good. The underground officials had no means of testing for carbon-dioxide gas; it was not the same as testing for firedamp Samples of air had to be taken and analysed before the presence of car-bon-dioxide could be proved. Dr. Haldane, the chief exponent regarding gas in the Old Country, contended that from 3 to 4 per cent, of carbon-dioxide had no effect on the human system. The Blackball mine was provided with adequate ventilation facilities. A stone tunnel had been put in recently at a cost of over £3OOO, to give better ventilation. During the lire four years ago, it was necessary to seal up the main air return, in order to isolate the fire. Since then the fire had been extinguished. The main return was now open, and things were better by a long way. The brattice door might have been left open again after he closed it. It was hung up over a bar by someone, before he replaced it. Such doors were sometimes inconvenient to the truckers, especially if the doors got wet; but they could not be done away with altogether. The deputy reported that the ventilation was good at 2 p.m. There was no danger of an explosion from carbon-diox-ide.

The S.M.: Has it any effect on the men?—Not up to 3 or 4 per cent. We know that the Act says 1 per cent., but, as I say, the underground officials cannot test for it.

Inspector Davis: You will admit that only about 50 per cent of the air is going around the working places? About 63,000 cubic feet is travelling through the fan, but only about 32,000 cubic feet is going through the working places.—l will not admit that. Inspector Davis: Those are the facts as registered by the instruments. Only about 50 per cent, is going around the actual working faces. The air is going into the mine, but it is not being distributed around the working faces to the best advantage. At one particular place there are 900 cubic feet going in, but at the actual working face there are only 140 cubic feet. You will admit that men cannot work in that day after day. Dr Haldane says that from three to four per cent of carbon-dioxide is harmless, but he does not say for a long time. Some of your men have been coming out in an unsatisfactory condition. Small • items complaining about the ventilation at Blackball have appeared in the press from time to time. I pointed it out to you, but no improvement was made up to June 30. When it gets to that state that gas is discernible with a naked light', it is time that everybody is put in their place. If the men complain, it is up to the management to take notice.

Witness: We always do that. The S.M.: Is it the practice to measure the air? —We are called upon to take measurements once per month, but not necessarily at the miners’ working face. The measurements are taken at the main air return, and a record is kept. * How do you account for this excessive carbon-dioxide getting into the air?—The Blackball mine is very liable to spontaneous combustion. We could have applied to the Minister for exemption, but decided to carry on without taking advantage of that section of the Act. Can you not avoid carbon-dioxide gas by keeping the fan working properly?—lt is not the fan, but the distribution of the air. If a door is open, it will allow gas to accumulate. When Inspector Davis went in, the ventilation was not so good as it had been previously. The S.M: Is it suggested that proper precautions have not been taken? Inspector Davis: I suggest that there is ample air going into the mine, but it is not being distributed to the best advantage. So far as exemption I is concerned, I do not think they have

any hope of getting it. The Chief Inspector and I are concerned about the actual distribution of the air to the working faces. The fan is working well, but the air is not being distributed properly to the working places, and it is not satisfactory to the health of the men working in there. The S.M.: You are asking for a penalty against each of the managers? —Yes, because we contend that both are equally responsible. The S.M. said that the penalty imposed for a breach of Section 91 of the Act was a fine not exceeding £5O. He asked whether -it were the first charge of its kind. Mr Hannan replied in the affirmative and added that both defendants had been mine managers for many years, but it was the, first time they had been charged with a breach of the A>ct. Inspector Davis: W.e are not asking for a heavy penalty. All we want to do is to improve the ventilation. The S.M. fined each defendant £5, with 10/- costs.