BREAKING: 5 mine workers missing after 'seismic event'

[schumi]

Johannesburg – Five miners are unaccounted for at Kusasalethu mine in Carletonville following seismic activity, Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited said on Friday afternoon.

Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited said its management team and the Department of Mineral Resources were at the mine to ensure that every effort was made to return the employees to safety.

A statement by the mining group said rescue teams had been working at the scene since 10.30 when the incident occurred.

News24
http://www.news24.com/news24/SouthA...-workers-missing-after-seismic-event-20170825

 

[Creag]

Prognosis probably isn't good. But sincerely hope they are found alive and well.

 

[Magnum]

Prognosis probably isn't good. But sincerely hope they are found alive and well.

Happened to my mine a couple of weeks ago. I'm not setting my feet down there.

 

[schumi]

Rescue operations continue as trapped mine workers remain underground

Johannesburg – One of five miners trapped 3.1km below ground in the Kusasalethu mine in Carletonville, last communicated with rescue teams on Friday afternoon, a spokesperson said.

Rescue teams managed to talk to one miner through a rock wall after “seismic activity” caused sections of the mines to collapse at 10:30 on Friday, Harmony Gold spokesperson Marian van der Walt said.

Van der Walt said it wass currently being called "seismic activity" because the collapse could either be geological or mining induced. Investigations following rescue operations will determine the cause, she said.

Van der Walt could not say when exactly rescue teams spoke to the miner. It was unclear how thick the rock wall is.

“The five miners all have their safety packs, which would give them oxygen for at least a few hours.”

Several options were being considered to rescue the miners, but the safety of the two rescue teams trying to reach the miners had to be taken into account.

“Obviously we are hoping to get them out as soon as possible. As time goes by it becomes increasingly difficult to save the miners.”

Van der Walt said it was unclear if any of the five were hurt.

“I won’t even dare ask that question. As for now, we are hoping for the best and trust that they will be saved.”

Their families had been informed.

Van der Walt said 3000 miners were working at the mine at the time.

Harmony Gold management and representatives from the department of mineral resources were at the mines’ incident centre to ensure the safe return of the workers, she said.

“Saving these miners remains our top priority. We won’t settle for anything less.”

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...pped-mine-workers-remain-underground-20170825

 

[Creag]

Happened to my mine a couple of weeks ago. I'm not setting my feet down there.

Friend does surveys for insurance companies tells the experience of hearing of said seismic occurrences while underground. Something about ruining your laundry. Balls of titanium to go down there.

 

[schumi]

Oxygen pumped into mine shaft to keep trapped workers alive

Johannesburg – Rescue teams have started pumping oxygen into the shaft where five mine workers are trapped 3.1km below ground in the Kusasalethu mine in Carletonville, a Harmony Gold spokesperson said on Friday night.

This would reduce the risk of the miners suffocating while rescue operations are underway, Marian van der Walt told News24.

Four rescue teams would work in shifts throughout Friday night and Saturday morning to ensure the safe return of the miners.

The five miners were trapped behind a rock wall after a tremor, measuring 1.2, caused sections of the mine to collapse at 10:30 on Friday morning. It is unclear how thick the rock wall is.

Van der Walt said the tremor could either be geological or mining-induced. This would be determined after the rescue operations.

Rescuers had so far managed to talk to one of the trapped miners through a wall on Friday afternoon.

About 3000 miners were working at the mine at the time of the tremor. No other injuries have been reported.

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...-shaft-to-keep-trapped-workers-alive-20170825

 

[Magnum]

Friend does surveys for insurance companies tells the experience of hearing of said seismic occurrences while underground. Something about ruining your laundry. Balls of titanium to go down there.

The dust on pipes and cabling becomes airborne. you have no vision. earth shaking. rocks falling. It is a sht place to be. I'm surface personnel. Have no desire to work underground what so ever.

 

[schumi]

Five remain trapped 3.1km underground at Harmony mine

Cape Town - Rescue teams were on Saturday morning still working to save five miners trapped 3.1km below ground at Harmony’s Kusasalethu mine in Carletonville.

The five miners became trapped behind a rock wall after a tremor, measuring 1.2 on the Richter scale, caused sections of the gold mine to collapse at around 10:30 am on Friday.

The cause of the tremor has not yet been established.

Harmony said in a statement on Saturday morning that rescuers worked through the night to try and reach the five employees, and would continue until the men were found.

Rescue teams have been pumping compressed air into the shaft where the miners are stranded, to reduce the risk of them suffocating.

The mine has suspended all operations as the rescue takes place.

Roughly 3000 miners were working there at the time of the tremor.

No other injuries were reported.

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/five-remain-trapped-31km-underground-at-harmony-mine-20170826

 

[dlk001]

Hopefully, everyone will be brought back to surface safely.

 

[schumi]

Kusasalethu trapped miner dies, search continues for 4

Johannesburg - One of the five miners trapped in the Kusasalethu mine near Carletonville has died, Harmony Gold said on Saturday.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident," said Peter Steenkamp, chief executive officer after the miner was brought to the surface, but declared dead.

"Every effort was and continues to be made to get to all of our colleagues as quickly and as safely as possible. Our sincere condolences go to the family and friends of the deceased," said Steenkamp.

The search will continue for four employees still trapped 3.1km below the surface.

They are surviving on compressed air that is being pumped into the shaft they are thought to be trapped in.

A tremor measuring 1.2 on the Richter scale caused sections of the gold mine to collapse at around 10:30 on Friday. There were about 3 000 miners working at the time of the tremor but all apart from the five were safe.

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has blamed the company for alleged below standard working conditions.

AMCU's Gauteng West health and safety chairperson Nathi Mathunjwa alleged that temperatures underground were higher than the permitted 31 degrees, at 32.5 degrees.

Operations at the mine have been suspended for the rescue.

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...ed-miner-dies-search-continues-for-4-20170826

 

[dlk001]

That is sad

 

[dlk001]

Happened to my mine a couple of weeks ago. I'm not setting my feet down there.

Which mine? Come on, you should at least visit the safe areas . The high risk areas are the production stopes.

 

[schumi]

Second trapped Kusasalethu miner dies

Johannesburg - The second miner trapped in the Kusasalethu mine near Carletonville has died, Harmony Gold said on Sunday.

“A second miner…has been brought to surface. Regrettably, he succumbed to his injuries,” the mine's Chief Executive Officer, Peter Steenkamp said in a statement.

On Saturday, another miner was rescued but declared dead once brought to the surface. This follows an incident on Friday morning when a tremor measuring 1.2 on the Richter scale caused sections of the gold mine to collapse. About 3 000 miners were working at the time of the tremor but all apart from the five managed to get to safety.

“Three employees remain unaccounted for and rescue efforts will continue until they have been found,” said Steenkamp.

“Our efforts continue to focus on reaching our colleagues as quickly and safely as possible,” said Peter Steenkamp.

The three are trapped 3.1km below the surface. Compressed air is being pumped into the shaft in which they are thought to be trapped in order to keep the miners alive.

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/second-trapped-kusasalethu-miner-dies-20170827

 

[Creag]

Sad... can only hope that there are survivors from the final 3

 

[Magnum]

Which mine? Come on, you should at least visit the safe areas . The high risk areas are the production stopes.

When you head down that hole no area is safe. You have not seen what that the pressures do to solid rock down there. solid straight cut faces bends and chokes passage ways. Entire tunnels move meters in any direction. and the pieces that do calve off is as sharp as glass, cuts trough skin and bone. Quite a few miners have died due to blood loss without substantial injuries.

There is no help down there. closest medic is at lease 30 minutes travel after emergency call has been logged. If it is a bad event the area first have to be cleared and declared safe before any Proto team members may enter. Any unsafe conditions and they must evacuate leaving you there.

No thanks. Ill stay where the sun shines everyday. May not make nearly as much money as I could down there but I'm happy with that.

 

[dlk001]

Harmony mine must take responsibility if trapped miners die - Amcu

Carletonville - The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) says Harmony’s Kusasalethu mine in Carletonville needs to take full responsibility if the five trapped miners are not found alive.

Amcu's Gauteng West health and safety chairperson Nathi Mathunjwa said, at the time that the miners went down, the traveling wheel support was not up to the mine's standard.

"The temp pressure there [underground] was above the 32.5 degrees and it is suppose to be 31 degrees. The employees were not suppose to be allowed to work on that particular place."

Mathunjwa said they would hold the mine responsible if the miners were not found alive, saying the Mine and Safety Act says it is the duty of the employer to ensure the working area is safe.

Rock falls hampered rescue operations.

The cause of the tremor has not yet been established.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...nsibility-if-trapped-miners-die-amcu-20170826

 

[ToxicBunny]

Hmmm in two minds about that AMCU statement.

Yes if they died due to negligence on the mines behalf, then the mine is responsible, but this was a seismic event which the mine cannot reliably predict and has no real control over.

 

[dlk001]

Yes if they died due to negligence on the mines behalf, then the mine is responsible, but this was a seismic event which the mine cannot reliably predict and has no real control over.

The rock engineer who is employed by the mine has large control over seismic events. The test for AMCU is to find out if the rock engineering seismic criteria was applied in the design and whether the execution was in accordance to the rock engineering design.

 

[ToxicBunny]

The rock engineer who is employed by the mine has large control over seismic events. The test for AMCU is to find out if the rock engineering seismic criteria was applied in the design and whether the execution was in accordance to the rock engineering design.

Fair enough on that front...

But surely, some seismic events are outside even those boundaries to manage and control?

 

[dlk001]

Fair enough on that front...

But surely, some seismic events are outside even those boundaries to manage and control?

Agree, even if there was negligence on behalf of the mine, AMCU does not have access to rock engineering expertise to prove that.

However, AMCU will likely find operational controls that failed (e.g. Trigger Action Response Plan, Communication Gaps, Standards, Seismic Monitoring). That is not enough to prove "negligence".