All the latest in mine health and safety in NSW

Weekly incident summary - week ending 10 July 2020
44 reportable incidents, 4 summarised below

Dangerous incident | IncNot0037725

Underground metalliferous mine

Summary: A worker was removing an accumulator from a raise boring rig on the surface laydown area. During this activity, he suffered a fluid injection injury to his left-hand ring finger. The worker was admitted to hospital and underwent surgery.

Comments to industry: Mine operators are reminded that effective isolation and energy dissipation are critical risk controls when working on high pressure fluid systems. Methods for dissipation of energy must be established and communicated for work on each part of a high pressure system.

Refer to:

Dangerous incident | IncNot0037724

Open cut coal mine

Summary: A 5T overhead crane was being used to remove an access ladder from a dozer. The operator was using the smaller hook on the crane. While taking up the slack on the slings and chains being used, the ladder was pulled free of its mountings and swung around, knocking over a stepladder which a worker was standing on. The worker jumped off the ladder and landed safely on the ground.
The crane operator was unfamiliar with the 5T crane and the speed of movement of the smaller crane hook. The crane hook moved faster than anticipated when load was applied to the ladder, which was still bolted to the dozer.

Comments to industry: Workers must be trained and competent in the use of equipment that is under their control. All potential failures must be identified when determining safe standing zones, including unplanned movement. The risks of unplanned movements should be communicated to all workers during no-go zone identification.

Dangerous incident | IncNot0037723

Underground metalliferous mine
Principal mining hazard: Fire or explosion

Summary: The operator of a loader in an extraction drive observed a flame coming from the muffler box on the loader. The operator stopped the machine and used a fire extinguisher to suppress the flame. The flame reignited and was extinguished again. The automatic fire suppression system was manually activated to cool the machine.
The apparent cause was fuel leaking from a crack in the internal fuel tank into the diesel particulate filter (DPF) box. The loader had previously contacted a wall, but the damage to the fuel tank was not identified at that time.

Comments to industry: This incident is under investigation and further information may be published at a later date. Following damage to any piece of equipment, thorough inspection and recommissioning must be undertaken to ensure all defects have been identified and repaired.

Refer to: Preventing fires on mobile plant

Dangerous incident | IncNot0037725

Underground coal mine
Principal mining hazard: Roads or other vehicle operating areas

Summary: A drill steel was caught in the articulation point of a load haul dump vehicle (LHD) and was flung out, striking the operator on the cheek. The drill steel and a roof bolt had been left on top of the LHD. The operator suffered two fractures to his cheek bone.

Comments to industry: All equipment transported on mobile plant must be secured and only stored in designated storage areas. Operators should ensure they check for any loose materials on the machine and remove them before operating the LHD.

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 (other, non-fatal)

Publication: MinEx NZ
Bucket falls from excavator
An operator of an excavator with a quick hitch and bucket attached, lifted the boom of the excavator and propelled the bucket five metres towards a nearby worker. Fortunately, the bucket missed the worker, and no-one was injured. The locking pin was not inserted into the quick hitch.
Details

ISR20-28 | Go to website

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

*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

Regional NSW, Resources Regulator

516 High St

Maitland, New South Wales 2320

Australia

Add us to your address book

Copyright © State of New South Wales through Regional NSW 2020
You are receiving this email because you subscribed to Mine Safety News through the NSW Resources Regulator website.
disclaimer | privacy | unsubscribe from this list | update your details