Weekly incident summary
8 February 2018 | ISR18-05 | Go to website | Download summary as PDF
To report an incident call 1300 814 609 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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Week ending 7 February 2018
Reportable incidents total: 34 Summarised incidents: 10
Incidents of note for which operators should consider the comments provided and determine if action needs to be taken.
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Dangerous incident | SInNot 2018/00182
Summary: During the unloading of a trailer at the processing site the trailer has rolled onto its side when the 3rd stage of the hoist ram has been reached. The truck's cabin has lent to the passenger's side but didn't rollover. The dump is on the crest. There were no injuries.
Recommendations to industry: Mine operators should review the following in relation to this incident:
- Ensure operators are trained in the use of the specific vehicle type.
- Operators in training should be supervised according to their level of experience.
- Communication systems such as two-way radios should be checked for correct operation during pre-start checks.
- Truck suspension systems should be maintained and without defects to operate as intended.
- Tipping areas should be flat or within specified limits for the truck.
- Warning devices should be supplied for operators if the truck breeches cross grade limits.
- Review SA04-24 Dump truck tip
Dangerous incident | SInNot 2018/00178
Summary: A haul truck road train that was taking coal from a washery bin to a rail-loop stockpile was driven into a bund wall at low speed. The bund was protecting a drainage channel. A review of video data obtained from the truck’s DSS safety system indicated the driver may have had a micro-sleep.
Recommendations to industry: Mine operators should review their fatigue policy and how it is complied with on site. Mine operators should review haulage road risk controls (bunding; guard railing etc) and to ensure they are adequate.
Dangerous incident | SInNot 2018/00177
Summary: A contractor was re-gassing a light vehicle when he felt an electric shock from a 240-volt re-gassing machine. The contractor did not report the incident until the end of his shift, so the site was not preserved at the time of the incident and the exact time is unknown. On initial investigation, the re-gas machine tested correctly however, the extension lead was found to have damaged earth.
Recommendations to industry: Mine operators should review:
- training and confirm that workers understand their obligations to report incidents at the time of the event.
- electrical control plans to ensure that workers conduct quality pre-use checks to all equipment before it is used.
Serious injury | SInNot 2018/00164
Summary: Police informed the mine a child had an accident on the mountain behind the administration area on site. The area, which was locked, was opened to allow the ambulance and police to find the child. The injured child was found at 9.30 am and a rescue helicopter flew the child to a hospital in Sydney.
Recommendations to industry: Mine operators should review their site security controls to prevent unlawful trespassers. They should take into consideration that the general public may not be aware of the potential hazards of a mine site.
Dangerous incident | SInNot 2018/00163
Summary: While trying to clear a blocked diaphragm pump, a worker isolated the compressed air line. The worker then opened the bleed valve in the delivery line while putting their face in the line of fire. Dirt and grit hit the worker in the face and eyes. The worker was wearing safety glasses that were blown off.
The worker was transported by ambulance to hospital for treatment.
Recommendations to industry: Mine operators should review:
- how the potential hazards associated with a blocked discharge hose/pipe are recognised and controlled.
- the direction that bleed valves discharge.
Dangerous incident | SInNot 2018/00160
Summary: Three workers were 15 m away from where a 30 kg piece of steel landed after it fell from the underside of the floor above in the concentrator pump floor in a surface mill.
Recommendations to industry: Mine operators should review suitability of structural integrity and inspection programs for areas of high vibration and/or corrosion.
Dangerous incident | SInNot 2018/00159
Summary: A crew was operating a new belt maintenance station to retract belt from the maingate conveyor. After 30 m was retracted, a clip became caught on the pinch roller. When the crew re-attempted to get the clip through 14 of the 24 x 3/8" mounting bolts sheared sending several bolts in the direction of two of the crew who were standing 5 m from the belt maintenance station. From initial site investigations, there may have been a hydraulic issue with a blocked drain case port.
Recommendations to industry: In relation to hydraulic systems and equipment, mine operators should ensure:
- case drains and return lines are installed as per design drawings
- workers have adequate information, training and competencies for the task
- commissioning activities and checks for maximum working pressure, relief settings, flows etc are completed.
Dangerous incident | SInNot 2018/00158
Summary: A worker was using a water pressure cleaner at up to 5Kpsi pressure to scale salt from the top of a service. The worker stopped to change out the lance before depressurising. The worker had a hand on the end of lance and a co-worker hit the trigger, injuring the worker's hand.
Recommendations to industry: Refer to the recommendations in SA18-03 Two workers suffer serious fluid pressure injuries in separate incidents
Dangerous incident | SInNot 2018/00155
Summary: A contract operator suffered a deep cut to his finger during the installation of 6 m high tension roof bolts using a load haul dump hydraulic bolter. The hole had been drilled and the operator was installing the bolt in to the hole when the plate slid back down the bolt, cutting his finger. The operator was wearing gloves at the time of the incident.
Recommendations to industry: Mine operators and contracting companies should review procedures associated with the installation of roof bolts to ensure all potential hazards have been considered and appropriate controls have been introduced.
Dangerous incident | SInNot 2018/00151
Summary: A dump truck lost control while travelling down a ramp. The dump truck was empty with the road conditions wet from recent water cart activity and a passing storm. The dump truck slid out at 90 degrees and crossed the centre line before stopping. No injuries were reported and there were no other vehicles on the ramp at the time of the incident.
Recommendations to industry: All mine operators should review:
- how a change in road conditions are communicated to all the workforce.
- how statutory officials monitor change and their corrective actions to change.
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Number of incident notifications, by commencement month and incident type
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Recent publications
The Resources Regulator has developed a health control plan guide that will inform operators and other persons conducting a business or undertaking at a mine or petroleum site of their legislative requirements, to ensure the highest health and safety standards for workers are in place.
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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: resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/safety
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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 Annual Performance Measures Reports.
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