Two workers were trapped when a winder malfunctioned. The mine initiated an emergency recovery in accordance with their emergency management plan. The workers were rescued eight hours later.
A causal investigation is underway. Rescue of workers from a winder must be included as part of the emergency response plan for mines with winders.
A gas exceedance occurred in a development panel when gas levels reached 2.5%.
Recommendations to industry: When mining in geologically disturbed areas, further controls and a heightened awareness of increasing gas make needs to be considered. Sources of increased gas make include floor breaking, proximity of gas drainage holes and geological structure intersection. Controls considered should include borehole management, increasing ventilation and the use of venturis.
Serious incident | SinNot 2018/01446
Summary: A worker suffered a broken ankle after falling. The worker was standing on the edge of a conveyor belt after adjusting an item hanging from the conveyor, before slipping to the centre of the conveyor belt.
Recommendations to industry: For planned and routine tasks requiring workers to access points beyond their reach, suitable access methods should be arranged. The risk of slipping on wet conveyor belting is easily foreseeable.
Dangerous incident | SinNot 2018/01433
Summary: While driving up a decline at an underground metalliferous mine, a light vehicle began revving heavily. The operator released the accelerator and attempted to shut the vehicle down but it continued to rev hard. Flames were seen coming from the front driver’s side wheel arch. The driver activated the vehicle’s fire suppression system and rolled the vehicle off the decline. Once stopped, the operator lifted the bonnet and used a hand-held fire extinguisher to put out a flame in the engine bay. An inspection identified a failed turbo and catastrophic engine failure.
Recommendations to industry: Light vehicles must be included when assessing the risk of fires on mobile plant. Component failure where oil can become an uncontrolled fuel source for the engine (such as a turbo failure), should be considered when developing maintenance schedules.
Serious injury | SinNot 2018/01518
Summary: Two workers were conducting surface environmental monitoring in a remote location when one worker slipped over and broke his ankle. The worker was evacuated by helicopter for treatment.
Recommendations to industry: Mine emergency plans and procedures must include response requirements for workers in remote areas. This must include communication methods, immediate response and evacuation of injured workers.
Dangerous incident | SinNot 2018/01509
Summary: A loader hit a light vehicle in an underground metalliferous mine. The loader was tramming towards a workshop and up an incline when it hit the vehicle, which was parked and being washed down by a worker.
Recommendations to industry: When dealing with the risk of a collision involving mobile plant, the hierarchy of controls should be followed. Systems such as collision detection and avoidance systems, visual aids and segregation should be implemented before relying on procedural controls.
Dangerous incident | SinNot 2018/01507
Summary: An inner rear tyre failure occurred ejecting several large pieces of rubber (up to 11 kg) up to 200 metres from a truck.
Recommendations to industry: Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2014 clause 179 Dangerous incidents (a) (iv) an uncontrolled escape of a pressurised substance is applicable to tyre failures and must be reported immediately to the Central Assessment Unit (CAU).
Dangerous incident | SinNot 2018/01486
Summary: A contract electrician had isolated a circuit at a main control panel and he was in the process of replacing a J box. During assembly the electrician touched the earth wire and felt a ‘buzz' in his fingers.
Recommendations to industry: When isolating, the risk of induction induced energy must be considered.
