Weekly incident summary - week ending 29 January 2021
30 reportable incidents, 5 summarised below
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Dangerous incident | IncNot0039090
Underground metal mine
Principal mining hazard: Roads or other vehicle operating areas
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Summary: A water truck lost control on a ramp and rolled over. The driver sustained minor injuries. Preliminary findings suggest that the brakes failed and the driver, who was not qualified to drive a water truck, was unable to bring the truck to a stop.
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Comments to industry: Mine operators must have documented life-cycle maintenance strategies for plant and ensure that maintenance is undertaken in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Workers must not operate plant without training and must be assessed as competent to operate that specific plant. Pre-start assessments must be carried out prior to operating mobile plant.
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Dangerous incident | IncNot0039098
Open cut coal mine
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Summary: When blasting overburden, fly rock has been ejected beyond the exclusion zone and into an area where mining plant was operating. No one was injured.
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Comments to industry: The Resources Regulator published an investigation report in August 2020 following a dangerous blasting incident. Refer to: Investigation Report – Dangerous Blasting Incident. Mine operators are reminded that appropriate systems must be in place to review and audit the explosives control plan and blasting work practices, to ensure that exclusion zone requirements are adequate. Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) should be aware of clauses 26 and 31 and Schedule 2 of the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014.
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Dangerous incident | IncNot0039102
Underground metal mine
Principal mining hazard: Roads or other vehicle operating areas
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Summary: A jumbo that was parked on the start of a decline has been hit in the rear by a loader bucket. The operator of the jumbo was at the front of the machine at the time of the collision. No one was injured.
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Comments to industry: A safety alert will be published for this incident.
Operators should ensure that all safety devices, such as beacons, are present and operating when undertaking a pre-start assessment and take the necessary action to remedy any faults.
Operators should also assess risks that may arise from their actions. When parking a vehicle, the operator should maintain situational awareness. If it is necessary to park in a position that increases the risk of a collision, positive communications and/or other risk controls, such as signs, should be used to minimise the risk.
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Dangerous incident | IncNot0039117
Underground metal mine
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Summary: A maintenance hoist that was loaded with a light vehicle had a rope failure that caused the hoist to drop on one side. No one was injured.
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Comments to industry: This incident is under investigation and further information may be published at a later date. Mine operators are reminded that hoist ropes should be regularly inspected and the triggers for rope replacement should be determined according to the task, the rating of the ropes and the risk associated with rope failure.
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Dangerous incident | IncNot0039120
Open cut coal mine
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Summary: A worker was struck in the face by a metal spreader bar while in the process of reconnecting the chain on a feeder breaker. Another worker applied a small amount of pressure to a 30T ram, applying a compressive force to the spreader bar before the injured worker had moved to a safe standing zone.
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Comments to industry: Workers should ensure they use fit-for-purpose equipment when undertaking tasks.
Safe standing zones should be determined where hydraulic pressure is being applied to objects and there is a potential for unintended movement or equipment failure.
Workers should communicate their intentions clearly and ensure that their actions don’t put others in a position of danger.
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Resources Regulator publications
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Other publications of interest
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 (fatal)
Publication: MSHA
Mine fatality
On 16 January 2021, a mine worker was fatally injured while using a tool to remove a down-the-hole hammer. The drill motor turned unexpectedly, pinning the worker’s leg between the tool and the drill mast.
Details
National (other, non-fatal)
Publication: Resources Safety and Health, Queensland (Coal)
Explosion inside truck cabin from AC system – Safety Alert #384
On 11 January 2021, a serious accident occurred while a mine worker was driving a truck in an underground mine. There was an explosion in the truck cabin causing serious burns to the worker’s face, hands and chest. Fortunately, the worker’s eyes were protected from the blast by safety glasses.
Details
Publication: Resources Safety and Health, Queensland (Mineral mines and quarries)
High potential incident summary – November 2020
Details
Publication: Resources Safety and Health, Queensland (Coal)
High potential incident summary – December 2020
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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