In this issue:

• Causal Investigation at Metropolitan
• Workers injured by high pressure fluid
• Welding-related electric shocks
• Vehicle collisions cause for concern
• Stop work order issued at Wongawilli

Causal investigation into elevated gas levels at Metropolitan Coal Mine

The NSW Resources Regulator will lead a causal investigation into an incident at Metropolitan Coal Mine, where workers were withdrawn from underground parts of the mine after carbon dioxide and methane levels increased unexpectedly and at a significant rate.

A preliminary assessment did not identify any material breaches of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and we have no intention of conducting any further investigation into non-compliance issues.

The focus of ongoing inquiries is to identify the issues associated with the event in accordance with our Causal Investigation Policy.

We will publish an Investigation Information Release on the incident within the next 14 days on our website.

Workers injured by high pressure fluid

Welding-related electric shocks

• poor PPE management
• welding equipment in poor condition
• poor positioning of earth clamp
• failure to identify and control wet work area or water source near work area
• workers in contact with workpiece.

Vehicle collisions cause for concern

• failure to adequately implement positive communication requirements to control the risk of collision
• positive communications requirements not followed due to high radio traffic
• safety critical systems affected by low-quality maintenance
• operators failing to drive to conditions
• defects identified and not communicated to other vehicle operators
• vehicles remaining in service after defects identified, but not repaired.

Wongawilli issued with stop work order

The stop work order follows the Regulator issuing four separate Section 195 prohibition notices on the mine’s operators last week, in relation to significant safety issues identified at the mine.

An investigation by the Major Investigation Unit is now underway.