Dangerous incident | SinNot 2018/00580
Summary:While lifting a 4-tonne spider cap on a primary crusher, a 10-tonne overhead crane hoist rope failed.
Recommendations to industry: Lifting procedures must include checks of safety devices fitted to cranes.
Workers must follow a site standard or procedure detailing all requirements for bridging, forcing and system impairment including communication to other parties. For routine tasks, procedures should include details of the crane position to achieve a safe lift.
Dangerous incident | SinNot 2018/00563
Summary: A collision occurred between two haul trucks. One truck reversed into the other. There were no injuries but one truck was damaged.
Recommendations to industry: Mines should review Safety Bulletin SB18-06 Lack of positive communications
Dangerous incident | SinNot 2018/00562
Summary: An operator was hit with a stream of hydraulic oil while installing a roof bolt from a continuous miner. The operator was transported to hospital but was cleared of a fluid injection injury. The hose failed due to abrasion from rubbing on another hose.
Recommendations to industry: Where guarding is in place to protect workers from hydraulic release from moving hoses, the guard should be checked through the complete range of motion to ensure no gaps are present. Mine operators should manage the risk of hydraulic hoses rubbing.
Dangerous incident | SinNot 2018/00555
Summary:An excavator rolled onto its side while clearing overburden on a bench. The operator suffered minor injuries requiring first aid treatment. The operator was wearing his seatbelt, which reduced the severity of his injuries.
Recommendations to industry: Equipment operators must remain vigilant of the risk of machine roll overs and should be reminded of the importance of wearing seatbelts. When planning tasks and travel paths, supervisors must consider roll over hazards.
Dangerous incident | SinNot 2018/00554
Summary: A highwall failed and material spilled over the bund protection and onto the working bench below. This blocked access to part of the pit. While no workers were present in the area where the failure occurred at the time and no equipment was damaged, three workers were temporarily unable to egress the pit due to the access ramp being damaged when the highwall failed.
Recommendations to industry:A section 195 prohibition notice is in force prohibiting mining operations from taking place in this part of the mine.
Review the frequency of assessments of highwall stability and confirm appropriate triggers are included to increase frequency of assessments arising from events such as rain events and shot firing.
Mine operators should also review SB17-03 Rocks breach catch bund.
Dangerous incident | SinNot 2018/00553
Summary: A haul truck ran into a grader while trying to pass it. Positive communications protocols were not followed. No injuries were reported but heavy damage was caused to each machine, including a burst tyre.
Recommendations to industry: Digital radio recordings and a review of equipment tracking data provided comprehensive evidence with regard to the sequence of events and the actions of workers operating the equipment involved in the incident. Review the recommendations for positive communications in Safety Bulletin SB18-06.
Western Australia | SAss 2018/00976
Summary: The Resources Regulator has been made aware of an incident that occurred in Western Australia recently on an elevated work platform (EWP).
The telescopic boom “uncontrollably retracted under its own weight approximately 8 metres and stopped on its hard limit”. The unplanned movement occurred due to the failure of two wire rope cables that controlled the boom during the retraction function. An investigation found that the retraction cable mechanism was not maintained to the manufacturer’s specifications, the ropes were not captive in the pulley sheaves and it was evident that one cable had been severed for some time.
The retraction cables are inside the telescopic boom section and cannot be inspected visually without disassembly. The detection of rope failure relies on a broken cable indicator system (proximity sensor) to detect excessive movement of the rope as well as a schedule of maintenance and inspections to ensure correct alignment, adjustment and function.
Recommendations to industry: The circumstances of this failure demonstrates the importance of completing maintenance and inspections as specified by the manufacturer. Mines using EWPs must ensure that all maintenance and inspection procedures are completed including those applicable to the concealed rope and sheave mechanisms that control boom retraction.
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