All the latest in mine health and safety in NSW

Weekly incident summary - week ending 4 December 2020
55 reportable incidents, 3 summarised below

Dangerous incident | IncNot0038755

Industrial Minerals

Summary: A worker was trapped under the cab of a loader when the cab lowered onto him as he was working beneath it. The worker was trapped for about three minutes before he was released. Preliminary investigation found that the cab was unsupported at the time. No locking pin or chock was used to hold the raised cab in place. The worker sustained minor injuries.

Comments to industry: This incident is under investigation and a full report will be published at a later date. Under no circumstances should an operator work beneath an unsupported cab. OEM recommended chocks and locking pins should be used to secure the raised cab in place.

Dangerous incident | IncNot0038773

Coal processing plant

Summary: An operator was checking the oil on a loader while positioned between the counterweight and the rear wheel. Another operator entered the loader and started the vehicle. The worker removed himself from the area and was uninjured.

Comments to industry: Prior to undertaking any tasks around heavy machinery it is imperative that the machine is isolated. Operators should follow procedures and ensure there is no one in the vicinity of the machine before starting it. Visual checks and sounding the horn before starting the vehicle are basic controls that should be followed.

Dangerous incident | IncNot0038778

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

Summary: As an overloaded dump truck was travelling across the working area, a dozer doing floor clean-up changed the direction of travel and reversed into the driver side rear tyre (POS-3). No one was injured.

Comments to industry: Mine operators must have protocols and procedures to ensure positive communications are established between vehicle operators in collision zones. Consideration should be given to proximity detection and collision avoidance technologies. Supervisors must ensure that vehicle operators comply with the protocols and procedures. Ensure that any equipment mounted inside the cab, such as a fan, does not impede operator vision.

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 21 August 2020, a truck driver sustained fatal head injuries while he was deploying the automatic tarp on his fifth-wheel side-dump trailer.
Details

Publication: MSHA
Mine Fatality
On 19 October 2020, an excavator’s bucket struck a plant operator who was standing on the cross beam of a grizzly hopper screen.
Details

Publication: MSHA
Mine Fatality
On 27 October 2020, a miner was digging a hole to install a wooden post for roof control, when a section of the roof fell on him.
Details

ISR20-49 | 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

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