All the latest in mine health and safety in NSW

Weekly incident summary - week ending 6 November 2020
35 reportable incidents, 3 summarised below

Dangerous incident | IncNot0038585

Open cut coal mine

Summary: Workers were using a crane to lift and lower light poles from their foundations. After attaching a chain to the bottom of a pole, a worker was to use an elevated work platform to attach a sling mid-way up the pole before lifting. However, before this happened, the crane operator tensioned the chain, causing the pole to lift from its foundation and topple over. No persons were injured.

Comments to industry: Light poles should remain bolted in place until all slings and lifting equipment are in position so that the pole cannot fall when bolts are removed. Mine operators should have documented procedures for the task. Supervisors and workers should ensure that the procedures are followed throughout the duration of the task. It is vital that all parties actively involved in the task clearly communicate their intentions to others. No-go zones should be delineated and clearly communicated to all workers in the vicinity.

Dangerous incident | IncNot0038584

Underground metals mine

Summary: An operator was using a scaling bar to attempt to free up a jammed drill rig carousel after a drill steel had become stuck. While pushing on the bar the operator lost his grip. The bar sprung back and hit him in the lower jaw causing a severe laceration.

Comments to industry: Operators need to remain situationally aware and avoid trying to apply solutions to problems that have not been risk assessed. Force should not be applied to plant with tools that are not fit-for-purpose.

Dangerous incident | IncNot0038570

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

Summary: While tramming with a loaded bucket from the stockpile to the crusher, a loader collided with the driver’s side of a light vehicle. The vehicle was moved sideways with such force that the passenger side tyres were pushed off the wheel rims. The driver and passenger were fortunate to escape injury.

Comments to industry: Lack of positive communication has been the root cause of many incidents, including fatalities. Mine operators must consider higher-order controls including proximity detection. Effective protocols and procedures should be in place to ensure that positive communication between all operators is achieved. Supervisors must monitor the correct use of these protocols on a continual basis.

Refer to: Safety Bulletin 18-06 Lack of positive communications

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
Worker falls exiting loader
A worker was washing the roof of his loader, standing on the step near the back of the cab. Once he finished, he climbed backwards down the ladder (with 3 points of contact). When he reached the bottom step his foot slipped and he fell backwards, hitting his head.
Details

National (other non-fatal)

Publication: NT WorkSafe
Dual lift operations with forklifts not recommended
In late September 2020, workers at a Northern Territory worksite attempted to move a 10-meter jib weighing almost 4 tonnes. The Franna crane normally used to move the jibs was offsite, and a decision was made to dual lift the jib using slings and two forklifts.
During the lift, one of the forklifts positioned at the base of the jib rolled, pushing the jib forward. The uncontrolled momentum of the jib tipped the second forklift sideways. The forklift operator was wearing the seatbelt at the time, which prevented the worker from falling out of the cabin and potentially into the path of the tipping forklift.
Detail

ISR20-45 | 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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