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All the latest in mine health and safety in NSW
Weekly incident summary
To report an incident or injury call 1300814609
Weekly incident summary - week ending 11 December 2020
42 reportable incidents, 2 summarised below

Dangerous incident | IncNot0038802

Underground metals mine
Summary: During the filling of a cement silo an over-pressurisation resulted in deformation of the silo. As a result, bridge clamps connected to another silo snapped and one fell to the ground landing approximately three metres from a person. The two pieces of the bridge clamp that fell weighed 1.6 kilograms and 1.5 kilograms. No one was injured. Preliminary investigation suggests that a blockage in the dust extraction hose prevented the pressure relief valve from working.
Comments to industry: This incident is under investigation and further information may be published later. Mine operators should review their maintenance programs for silos and ensure that their dust extraction hose system allows for easy removal to check for blockages. Consider fitting individual relief valves to each silo tank and installing overhead protection for operators filling the silos.

Dangerous incident | IncNot0038828

Underground coal mine
Summary: A driller’s offsider had the tip of his finger amputated when it was crushed between a drill bit and hammer shroud. The driller was lowering the hammer bit on to a trolley on the rod trailer when the offsider slipped on the wet surface causing his left hand to slip between the bit and hammer shroud. The weight transferred to the trolley, causing the gap between the bit and hammer shroud to close, resulting in the crush injury.
Comments to industry: 

Mine operators and contract companies should ensure their training includes identifying potential pinch points and their associated hazards.

Consider:

  • eliminating, or where this is not possible, controlling the hazards that could result in hand injuries. This may require operators to install effective guarding.
  • alternative methods to remotely move drill rods and drill bits onto the trolley on the rod trailer.
  • separating the stabiliser from the hammer bit to reduce the weight of the drill bit assembly.
  • improving work area floor surface to reduce soft/wet areas.

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 8 November 2020, a bulldozer operator was killed when his bulldozer backed over the edge of a highwall.
Details

Publication: MSHA
Mine Fatality
On 23 November 2020, a miner was fatally injured when the battery-powered scoop he was operating ran over a section of pipe in the roadway. The four-inch plastic pipe entered the operator’s compartment and struck him.
Details
National (other, non-fatal)
Publication: Queensland Mines Inspectorate (coal)
High potential incidents – October periodical
Details
ISR20-50 | 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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