Another plant fire has destroyed a haul truck at an open cut coal mine.
Plant and equipment fires at mines across Australia is a concerning trend with a regulator urging mining maintainers to implement good maintenance practices to ensure combustible materials are isolated from equipment heat sources through effective shields and lagging.
Recent plant and equipment fires
An excavator fire at a NSW coal mine has highlighted the need for effective fire suppression systems 
A range of fire resistant hydraulic fluid may help prevent plant fires 
A haul truck has been destroyed by fire at a NSW mine 
McEwen Mining confirmed that the preliminary investigation of a fatal haul truck incident may have resulted from a medical related incident. 
A water tanker was extensively damaged by fire after the fire suppression system failed to extinguish the fire 
A loader fire on a coal stockpile may have been generated from a DPM filter
In the most recent incident, a fire destroyed a haul truck at a surface coal mine in New South Wales. According to the regulator “The operator applied the fire suppression system and left the truck”
The regulator says that the mine established an exclusion zone around the machine to protect other machines and workers from the fire.
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It said “There were no injuries, however one of the tyres exploded”
The regulator highlighted that the investigation is ongoing.
But it urged miners to implement good maintenance practices to prevent fires on mobile plant.
It said in a statement “Heat shields and lagging designed to prevent combustible materials from contacting hot surfaces must be regularly inspected and maintained. Maintenance practices should also include securing loose combustible items to prevent contact with hot surfaces.”
Image: NSW Resources Regulator
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