06.2 - EV Fire Safety for Mining
Mining electric vehicles
The mining sector is investing in decarbonised transport at a rapid rate, perhaps investing more time & money than any other sector.
​
Offering a quieter, cleaner environment with greatly reduced risk of diesel particulate exposure, lithium-ion batteries & mining EVs (MEVs) range from drones & dirt bikes to underground dump trucks carrying tonnes of product. There is also a range of electric and hydrogen passenger vehicles being rolled into fleet for both on & off site operations.
​
EV FireSafe has been working to better understand the mining sector & explore the EV & lithium-ion battery fire safety impacts a thermal runaway event could cause.
As part of this work, our team met with a group of Australia's largest mining companies & also attended two Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC) events, most recently in partnership with ERGT, a registered training organisation who have developed an EV hot scenario for firefighters.
​
Download our Mining Electric Vehicles pack here:
​
​
![Land Mining](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_6ea6570a874f4516a8fa7e017a2641d7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_401,h_267,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/11062b_6ea6570a874f4516a8fa7e017a2641d7~mv2.jpg)
World leading EV fire training for the mining sector
At the 2023 MERC EV FireSafe & ERGT trialled a combined classroom & hot scenario training schedule for mining emergency response teams.
​
This combination of important background theory & hands-on firefighter training is the first of it's kind in the world, & we're very excited to partner with ERGT to deliver this innovative training package.
​
From 2024, we'll be offering training as follows:
​
EV FireSafe - 1 hour online training webinars:
-
EV Battery Fire Strategies & Tactics for Firefighters
-
Battery Fire & Explosion Risks Deep Dive
-
Can an EV Electrocute me? How to Isolate EV HV Systems/EVSE
-
Can EVs Catch Fire Twice?
​
ERGT - full day Emergency Response for Lithium-Ion Batteries
-
Prerequisites by EV FireSafe:
-
EV Battery Fire Strategies & Tactics for Firefighters webinar
-
-
Prerequisites by ERGT:
-
RIIERR201E Conduct fire team operations​
-
PUAFIR207 Operate breathing apparatus open circuit
-
-
Course consists of:
-
Short knowledge recap​
-
6 training scenarios, including fire in an electric vehicle, bus & storage system
-
​
To register your interest, please email our Director at emma@evfiresafe.com
​
What are the EV & battery fire risks in mining?
We don't yet have verified battery fire data in mining, however we can start to create some potential threats & consequences from other incidents.
​
EV FireSafe can work with your EV procurement & emergency response teams to facilitate the safer transition to electrified mining vehicles for people & property. Contact our Director at emma@evfiresafe.com to discuss your site.
​
![EV Categories-4.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8b9ad1_b67c1fc6dc924654b6be0bf7425ff46e~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_82,w_1024,h_645/fill/w_600,h_378,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/EV%20Categories-4.png)
EV & lithium-ion battery fire safety consideration should be given to the following:
​
Higher risk:
-
Vapes & personal mobility devices at mining camps
-
Charging where MEVs are maintained or serviced
Lower risk:
-
Personal & visitor EVs in carparks
-
EV charging sites in carparks (outside main site)
-
EV charging sites for MEVs above ground or near structures
-
Road rescue from EVs for surrounding roads
Unknown risk:
-
MEVs & charging infrastructure underground
Environmental risk:
-
Remoteness, both site & for road rescue
-
Confined nature leading to vapour cloud explosion risk
-
Availability of water, potentially up to 10,000 litres
-
Contamination of nearby waterways, natural bushland
Battery Fire Safety Basics - online course
For basic awareness of lithium-ion battery fire risks in the mining environment this short online course will help you mitigate risk & stay safer.
On completion, you'll be able to:
-
identify LiBs at your site
-
identify risks LiBs pose
-
know when there's a higher risk of battery fire
-
describe what to do if an LiB emergency happens
-
explain basic LiB concepts to others
​
This short course is live on our dedicated LMS, evfiresafe.business