Underground blaze triggers explosives alert from SafeWork SA

Operators of mines and quarries are being alerted to the safe practices for using and storing explosives after an incident occurred at a mine site in South Australia last year.

SafeWork SA said inspectors were called to investigate a fire that broke out at the underground magazine of the mine site during the changeover of shifts.

SafeWork SA's inspectors examined the fire incident, and the Mine Operator enlisted a forensic fire investigator to ascertain the likely cause.

An investigation by SafeWork SA uncovered that several blasting cartridges were found to be damaged and had emitted a black substance from their casings.

“The most probable cause of the fire was found to be due to the auto-heating of the explosive substances leaking from damaged cartridges causing ignition of the explosives or the carton,” SafeWork SA stated.

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