Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How is the SafetySpear™ helping the environment?
A. Firstly, the SafetySpear™ replaces the heavy resource wastage and by-product-reliant solutions from traditional methods used to fix this problem. Secondly, the light and compact size of the SafetySpear™ saves resources in freight, packaging and handling. The best part is: the majority of the SafetySpears™ materials are recyclable.
Q. Why make SafetySpear™ operational parts out of plastics?
A. These are no ordinary plastics. This is a specialised high-grade impact plastic polyamide for the bottom section and flexible but tough polyurethane for the top section. These materials are balanced and deliver the best 'cradle to the grave' resource outcomes of all the available hazard solutions.
Q. Is this material strong enough to withstand high energy/high-speed impacts from escaping drill rods/tubes?
A. Your car has these materials in many of the most critical components that keep you safe. Many suspension bushings and even the airbags are made from these materials.
Q. Why not make the whole SafetySpear™ out of steel?
A. Steel corrodes (rusts) which can affect its ability to work effectively. Polymers don’t have this problem and can tolerate corrosive environments without affecting their operation, are lightweight and easy to handle.
Q. How much has the SafetySpear™ been tested? And has it been witnessed and verified by independent bodies?
A. The SafetySpear™ has been rigorously impact tested above ground in a specially design facility and underground in different mines in different States of Australia. It has been independently witnessed and verified by different bodies both above and below ground. WorkSafe Victoria inspectors and engineers have played a major part in this verification process.
Q. Why does the SafetySpear™ have so many parts?
A. This gives the SafetySpear™ redundancy. Multiple or duplications of working parts provide backup systems to ensure that it operates effectively in a wide range of environments.
Q. Why is the SafetySpear™ made from two different materials?
A. The SafetySpear™ has a unique design and its 'catch/control to stop' operation utilises the two materials’ best properties. The top/leading section is made from softer polyurethane, when activated ‘gums up’ in the hole to block the escaping drill rods/tubes, it also acts as a cushion to absorb the harsh impact of an escaping drill string. The bottom/trailing section is made from a harder high-impact polyamide and acts as a triggering mechanism to activate the top/leading sections.
Q. How does the SafetySpear™ deal with inconsistent variations in the blast hole?
A. In an impact situation the softer polyurethane top/leading sections can expand out and fill in significant blast hole variations and consistencies. The bottom/trailing section’s multiple slat rings expand and contract in and out to ensure contact with the blast hole wall, it will tolerate variations in the nominated drill size as long as the SafetySpear™ is installed as per the instructions provided.
Q. Will the plastic melt in hot environments or become brittle in cold ones?
A. The materials can withstand any environment, hot or cold, that personnel and machinery can operate in.