Weekly incident summary - week ending 23 September 2022
41 reportable incidents, 4 summarised below
|
|
Dangerous incident | IncNot0043507
Industrial metals
|
|
|
Summary: A worker suffered severe hand injuries while cleaning a mobile screen. A shovel that a worker was using became caught in a conveyor roller and twisted. This partly removed the tip of one finger and sliced the back of his thumb. The worker was on site for a few weeks and did not have experience of the task he was undertaking. An investigation into this incident was ongoing at the time of publication.
|
|
|
Comments to industry: Mine operators must ensure that before any worker starts work at a mine site, the worker is inducted and given information, training and instruction on the safety management system for the mine site. Mine operators should also review the adequacy of their guarding and isolation arrangements to protect workers from the risk of entanglement with operating plant. Isolation and control of all energy sources from plant is essential when adjustments are being undertaken. Engineering controls should be implemented to allow regular tasks to be conducted without the need to remove control measures (guards).
|
|
Dangerous incident | IncNot0043075
Construction materials
|
|
|
Summary: A worker suffered crush injuries to 3 middle fingers on a right hand while carrying out maintenance on a mobile crushing plant. Three workers were changing out blow bars on a horizontal shaft impactor. One of the workers placed his fingers into a pinch point between a blow bar and a lifting tool.
|
|
|
Comments to industry: Mine operators and contract companies should review their procedures against the original equipment manufacturers’ recommended procedure for this task. Ensure that documented procedures outline the sequence of tasks to be undertaken.
|
|
Dangerous incident | IncNot0043082
Open cut coal mine
Roads or other vehicle operating areas
|
|
|
Summary: A hydraulic hose ruptured and drained the steering oil tank of a truck, resulting in the loss of steering power. The oil sprayed over the engine block and caught fire. The operator initiated the truck’s fire suppression, which extinguished the flames.
|
|
Comments to industry: Hose management and protection is critical in preventing fires on mobile plant. Rubbing hoses are a well-known cause of fires on mobile plant. Mine operators must have systems in place that identify defects and poor hose standards, then assess the situation and put controls in place to prevent fires.
Refer to:
For more resources, visit our web page: Fires on mobile plant safety
|
|
Dangerous incident | IncNot0043096
Open cut coal mine
Roads or other vehicle operating areas
|
|
|
Summary: A haul truck was travelling down a short ramp from a dig unit when the operator noticed a change in steering function and brought the truck to a stop. Upon investigation, the operator identified the retaining bolt for the steering cylinder clevis pin had become loose, allowing the pin to fall out.
|
|
|
Comments to industry: Mine operators are reminded that they must develop and adhere to strict inspection and maintenance standards and practices to ensure plant is fit-for-purpose. Vehicle operators must carry out pre-start inspections to ensure plant can be operated safely. Safety critical systems such as steering should be inspected, maintained and tested in accordance with the OEMs' recommendations.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
