These incidents are included for your review. The NSW Resources Regulator does not endorse the findings or recommendations of these incidents. It is your legal duty to exercise due diligence to ensure the business complies with its work health and safety obligations.
International (other, non-fatal)
MSHA
One person died after a mine collapse in Giles County, Virginia. Authorities said that 911 was called just before 4 pm for the incident at Lhoist Chemical Lime Plant in Ripplemead. When crews arrived, they were reportedly told about an incident inside the mine where an excavator was engulfed by materials inside the mine. As a result, one person was trapped inside the cab of the excavator.
Authorities said first responders went into the mine to help workers get the operator of the excavator out of the cab of the equipment, which had been knocked on its side and engulfed by materials.
Details
MSHA
On 17 June 2022, a contract miner died when the compactor he was operating overturned, pinning him beneath the cab. As the miner was backing up, the left tyre went off the edge of an embankment, causing the compactor to overturn. This is the 13th fatality reported in 2022 and the fourth classified as 'machinery'.
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National (other, non-fatal)
WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
DMIRS has released two information sheets entitled 'Gendered violence: Sexual harassment' and 'Gendered violence: Sexual assault'. These information sheets are intended to assist persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) to prevent and respond to incidents of workplace gendered violence. Accompanying these documents is the information sheet dealing with notifying Mines Safety of sexual harassment and/or assault which has been recently updated to align with the WHS laws.
WA DMIRS - Information sheet - Gendered violence: Sexual assault
WA DMIRS - Information sheet - Gendered violence: Sexual harassment
Also refer to the NSW Resources Regulator fact sheet:
Workplace bullying and inappropriate conduct
Resources Safety & Health Queensland
The Mineral Mines and Quarries Inspectorate has produced a report to provide an overview of the key reporting elements it has tracked during the 2021/22 financial year. This report is part of the inspectorate's focus on improving reporting in the sector, in line with the recommendations from the Brady Heywood report, and to improve safety outcomes for mineral mines and quarry workers. The report noted that over the past twelve months, underground, surface and quarry sectors had all increased their reporting of HPIs.
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WA Parliament - Community Development and Justice Standing Committee
The Western Australian inquiry into sexual harassment in the state has found that the mining industry perpetuated a culture that failed to protect women employees, who continued to face sexual harassment and sexual assault at various sites. The findings of the year-long investigation into the mining sector were released following concerns about a culture of sexism and bullying.
Titled 'Enough is Enough', the report details how sexual harassment was ‘generally accepted or overlooked’ and describes the ‘failure’ of miners to recognise what was happening in their workplaces.
Female FIFO workers had long complained of sexual harassment in mining camps, temporary accommodation set up at remote mines to house workers.
The Resources Regulator is undertaking a review of the ‘Enough is Enough’ report.
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WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
Golden Grove Operations Pty Ltd was fined $35,500 after an integrated tool carrier and blast truck fell into a 13-metre-deep hole at the company's Golden Grove precious metals mine southeast of Yalgoo in October 2018. While no-one was injured in the incident, three workers from a blast crew were working in close proximity to the bomb truck minutes earlier. A number of charged blast holes were also engulfed in the sinkhole. Investigations found the root cause of the incident was backfilled underground workings had not been treated as a void, allowing work to be undertaken above an area of 'unknown stability'.
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Resources Safety & Health Queensland
Recent high potential incidents and serious accidents reported to the mines inspectorate have raised concerns about lifting and rigging activities, especially where chain blocks and lever hoists were used and/or loads were being drifted (refer Figure 1). Drifting loads refers to moving loads horizontally while being suspended. The high potential incidents reported have involved coal mine workers (CMWs) being struck, or nearly struck by loads that were being lifted, lowered, or suspended. Incidents reported include:
Incident 1. On 16 June 2022, workers were replacing a crushing and screening plant conveyor belt when a rope snapped and struck a worker in the face. A worker suffered serious injuries including the loss of an eye.
The Resources Regulator will conduct a compliance priority program on lifting and cranage activities at mines during between July and December 2022.
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