The NSW Resources Regulator has identified a deficiency in readiness and an inadequate response to heavy vehicle tyre fires, which pose the potential for explosions, in certain mining operations. Due to their substantial size and construction, tyres on heavy earth-moving vehicles are susceptible to unplanned explosions when exposed to heat, projecting debris over considerable distances with enough force to result in severe injury or fatality.
Recent incidents highlighted by the Regulator reveal a lack of understanding and appropriate concern regarding the risk of explosion. In a specific case, a fire erupted on a front-end loader at a coal mine. Regulator inspectors determined that the mine lacked a comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with heavy machinery tyres in heat and fire conditions. Consequently, the response involved personnel entering an area that should have been designated as an exclusion zone for worker safety. This included multiple staff members, including watercart operators, entering the exclusion zone for tasks such as taking photos, monitoring, or engaging in firefighting operations.
Another incident involved a fire on a dump truck at a coal mine. The Regulator reported that the dangers of hot tyre fires were not initially considered in the emergency response, and watercarts attempted to extinguish the fire in close proximity to the tyres in a forward-facing orientation. Although thermal imaging temperature monitoring was available, it was not utilised throughout the response phase of the incident. A supervisor activated the external fire suppression on the truck’s bumper approximately 42 minutes after the fire began, placing themselves in close proximity to the hot tyres.
In response to these incidents, the Regulator underscores the crucial need for mine sites to reassess emergency plans and response procedures, specifically addressing the risks associated with combating heavy machinery tyre fires. The Regulator emphasised that once the tyres are affected, workers must withdraw and employ more suitable methods to extinguish fires, including establishing exclusion zones and allowing the fire to self-extinguish. The paramount importance of worker and responder safety is emphasised, and personnel should not be committed inside the exclusion zone. This highlights the urgency for mining operations to prioritise safety measures and enhance their preparedness for potential heavy vehicle tyre fires.