When an automatic methane detector trips the electricity, what must the UMM ensure?

• A. A record of the day and time of the event is kept for 7 years
• B. Immediate re-commissioning of technology
• C. The detector is replaced within 24 hours
• D. No record is required

Answer: (A)

When a methane detector trips and cuts electricity, the priority is to document the event for safety review and regulatory compliance. The UMM must ensure a record of the day and time of the event is kept for seven years. This long-term retention supports investigation, audits, and trend analysis of gas management and detector performance under the mining regulations. The record typically captures the when and where, what action was taken, and any follow-up steps, so future checks can verify cause and prevent recurrence.

Re-commissioning the technology immediately isn’t the mandated action; safety and fault verification come first, and the record-keeping requirement remains the standard. Replacing the detector within 24 hours isn’t a universal requirement, and in any case, proper documentation is still needed. There is a real obligation to maintain records, so saying no record is required isn’t correct.