Weekly incident summary - week ending 6 August 2021
43 reportable incidents, 3 summarised below
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Dangerous incident | IncNot0040417
Open cut coal mine
Principal mining hazard: Roads or other vehicle operating areas
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Summary: A dump truck collided with a dozer at the tip head, when it rolled backwards at speed, as the dozer was reversing out of its path. The truck operator had made positive communication advising the dozer operator that he was entering the dump. The truck operator was positioning the truck to reverse to the tip head when the truck shutdown. The truck began rolling backwards and the operator was unable to stop the truck. Initial reports suggest a loss of brakes or mechanical failure with the truck. No one was injured.
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Comments to industry: The cause of this incident is still being investigated. Further information may be published later.
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Dangerous incident | IncNot0040438
Underground coal mine
Principal mining hazard: Roads or other vehicle operating areas
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Summary: A mechanical tradesperson was performing maintenance on a continuous miner. The worker attached a handheld grease gun to a grease line and after three to four pumps, the grease gun began to stall. The fitter attempted to remove the grease gun coupler from the nipple. When the coupler disconnected, a pressurised spray of grease was released from the nipple, striking the fitter’s forearm and bicep. The fitter was treated, and later cleared, for a suspected fluid injection injury. Initial investigation found that the grease line had been capped off.
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Comments to industry: Mine operators must include the risks associated with grease systems when developing control measures for the unintended release of pressurised fluids. Refer to the following publications: SB13-01 Fluid injections result in surgery, MDG-41-Fluid-power-systems
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Dangerous incident | IncNot0040419
Underground metals mine
Principal mining hazard: Roads or other vehicle operating areas
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Summary: A light vehicle was parked behind a jumbo in a decline. After the worker left the vehicle, it rolled 13 metres before hitting a wall. The vehicle had not been parked to site standards.
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Comments to industry: Vehicle operators must comply with correct park-up arrangements, particularly when parking on a grade. Mine operators should consider installing interlocks or warning systems for park brakes on light vehicles and other mobile equipment. Refer to Safety Bulletin: SB13-02 Unplanned movements of vehicles - too many near misses.
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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 28 July 2021, a mine worker was standing on a rock ledge to extract dimensional stone, when a triangular section of the rock broke off, causing the miner to fall approximately 35 feet.
Details
Publication: MSHA
Mine fatality– On 26 July 2021, a contract employee, who was not wearing fall protection, was performing maintenance on a cement cooler when a wooden board broke, causing him to fall 23 feet onto a concrete floor.
Details
National (other non-fatal)
Publication: Queensland Resources Safety and Health (Coal)
Learnings from conducting level two emergency exercises in Queensland coal mines - safety bulletin #196
This safety bulletin summarises a review of the reports compiled by coal mines following the level two exercise in 2020. It highlights the requirements to conduct the annual exercise and the learnings for industry identified during the exercise.
Details
Publication: Queensland Resources Safety and Health
Video animation – Pressurised refuelling systems 1: Lessons learned
An instructional video created to assist workers to understand common causes of refuelling incidents, and how they can be rectified.
Details
Publication: Queensland Resources Safety and Health
Video animation – Pressurised refuelling systems 2: Process overview
An instructional video created to assist workers to understand common causes of refuelling incidents, and how they can be rectified.
Details
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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
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*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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