Weekly incident summary - week ending 1 October 2021
44 reportable incidents, 2 summarised below
|
|
Dangerous incident | IncNot0040801
Underground coal mine
|
|
|
Summary: A worker was replacing a leg cylinder on a breaker line support. While positioning to install the top pin, the yield valve sprayed oil onto the worker. The investigation identified that the powered lower circuit entrapped fluid. When the leg was raised, the pressure intensified and caused the yield valve to dissipate the pressure from the leg’s top stage. The worker was uninjured.
|
|
Comments to industry: Effective isolation and energy dissipation practices are critical risk controls when working with high pressure fluid systems. Mine risk assessment on hydraulic systems must identify and provide effective controls for areas where trapped fluid poses a hazard. Refer to the following publications:
SB13-01 Fluid injections result in surgery
MDG41-Fluid-power-systems
|
|
Dangerous incident | IncNot0040788
Underground metals mine
|
|
|
Summary: A cable cassette was being changed out with an integrated tool carrier, when it dislodged. As it fell to the ground, it glanced the operator, who received some scratches to their hand and knee.
|
|
Comments to industry: Workers need to identify safe standing zones and ensure they remain outside the line of fire when replacing cassettes and attachments on mobile plant. When lifting loads, workers must:
- use the correct lifting equipment and machine for the task
- clean the work area of equipment not required for the task.
|
|
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 15 September 2021, a 33-year-old contract welder was fatally injured when he crawled 40 feet into a 30-inch-diameter stainless-steel pipe. The victim was welding a joint from the outside of the pipe, and then entered the pipe to troubleshoot issues related to argon gas leakage. Co-workers found him unresponsive.
Details
Publication: MSHA
Roof and rib – Safety alert
From January 2017 to August 2021, the coal mining industry experienced 1,967 roof and rib accidents. Of these, there were nine fatal incidents and 570 lost time incidents; 83% of these incidents were the result of rocks falling between bolts and 13% were from rib rolls on continuous mining sections or onto longwall face conveyors.
Details
National (fatal)
Publication: DMIRS (WA)
Fatality from fall from height
On 17 September 2021, a 52-year-old maintenance worker received fatal injuries after falling from a conveyor walkway to the ground below. An investigation is underway.
Details
Publication: DMIRS (WA)
Fatality from ground collapse
On 30 September 2021, a 25-year-old drill and blast operator received fatal injuries when he was engulfed in a ground collapse while stemming a charged shot hole for blasting. The incident occurred in an open pit mine. An investigation is underway.
Details
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
