Weekly incident summary
23 August 2019 | ISR19-32 | Go to website
To report an incident call 1300 814 609 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Week ending Friday 16 August 2019
High level summary of emerging trends and our recommendations to operators.
Reportable incidents: 32
Summarised incidents: 3
This incident summary provides information on reportable incidents and safety advice for the NSW mining industry.
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Fatality | IncNot 0035311
Summary: A dozer and light vehicle collided at a mineral sands mine.
The light vehicle operator was fatally injured during the incident.
Recommendations to industry: Investigators and inspectors attended the incident site. The Regulator has commenced a major investigation, and an investigation information release will be issued in the near future.
Dangerous incident | IncNot 0035328
Summary: A secondary haulage shaft winder apparatus was being tested. The skip was being operated in manual mode when the top of the skip contacted the stops in the headgear.
Cause reported to be positive communication failure between the worker controlling the slow raise test and the winder driver. Secondary means of egress was available for workers underground.
Recommendations to industry: Communication protocols must be adhered to when winding systems are being operated manually during testing or maintenance.
Dangerous incident | IncNot 0035336
Summary: The operator of a mobile crushing unit smelled smoke. On further examination, the operator observed flames coming from the battery compartment. The operator shut down the unit and used a single hand-held extinguisher to put out the fire.
Initial investigation indicates that a belt guard had become loose and contacted the battery terminals, causing a fire.
Recommendations to industry: Plant that is subject to constant, heavy vibration must be appropriately inspected and maintained.
Mine operators should consider all risks associated with the placement and guarding of lead acid batteries fitted to such plant.
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NSW Resources Regulator publications
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Other publications of interest
The 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 (fatal)
Publication: MSHA
Open pit, non-metal (sand and gravel); Final report
On 18 May 2019, a 35-year old plant operator with eight years’ experience, died after falling 28 feet from the basket of a personnel lift. The worker was using the personnel lift to access a cone crusher feed box to clear a stoppage. He was wearing a fall protection harness with a retractable lanyard, but the lanyard was not attached to the basket’s tie off points.
Details
Publication: MSHA
Mine fatality alert
On 31 July 2019, a 62-year old contractor with 30 years mining experience sustained fatal injuries when three methane ignitions occurred in an air shaft. The victim and three contractors were preparing to seal the intake air shaft of an underground mine. At the time of the ignitions, the victim was trimming metal so that it would fit inside wooden forms and was in direct line of the ignition forces.
Details
International (other, non-fatal)
Publication: MinEx NZ
Bench failure
A bench above an area containing a compressor and generator began fretting. On inspection, some significant cracks had appeared in the bench. The toe of the bench was immediately bunded and an exclusion zone was put in place. Drainage was also installed on the bench to drain water away from cracks.
Details
National (other, non-fatal)
Publication: DNRME (QLD)
Preliminary observations on North Goonyella - High potential incident
On 1 September 2018, all coal mine workers were withdrawn from the underground workings at North Goonyella Coal Mine as a precautionary measure in response to rising methane levels at the longwall. In the hours that followed, the mine’s spontaneous combustion triggers were reached, escalating the level of risk.
The inspectorate started gathering relevant information in November 2018 and formally commenced its investigation in January 2019, after the site was stabilised. The scope of the investigation is to analyse events leading up to this high potential incident, which resulted in the withdrawal of workers.
Details
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You can find all our guidance and incident related publications (that is, safety alerts, safety bulletins, incident information releases, weekly incident summaries and investigation reports) on our website: resourcesregulator.nsw.gov.au
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*While the majority of incidents are reported and recorded within a week of the event, some are notified outside this time period. The incidents in this report therefore have not necessarily occurred in a one week period. All newly recorded incidents, whatever the incident date, are reviewed by the Chief Inspector and senior staff each week and summarised in this report. For more comprehensive statistical data refer to our Safety Performance Measures Reports and our Business Activity Reports
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