Safety Update (Issue 15)

MINING FATALITY: FITTER, TRANSPORT/PROCESSING FACILITY, WESTERN AUST.

It has been reported that a 26 year old fitter, died after being struck on the head by the splitter gate in a transfer chute at an iron ore transport/processing facility on the coast of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The fatality occurred on Saturday, 1 May.

Details are sketchy, but initial information indicates that the chute door had been changed from one position to another (to divert the ore stream) using the compressed-air powered cylinder attached to it for the purpose.  The door would not re-locate properly, due to a blockage in the chute.

It appears that the deceased had his head inside the chute and was attempting to clear the blockage.  When the blockage was freed, the door or gate moved, due to the air pressure in the system, and crushed his head against the side of the chute.

It is not known, at this stage, why the air pressure had not been bled from the system before attempts were made to remove the blockage in the chute.

LATE INCLUSION… PERTH, MAY 3 AAP

A 22-year-old man became WA’s second mining industry fatality in as many days when his motorcycle hit a car at the Kalgoorlie mine where he worked.

MINERALS AND PETROLEUM REGULATION SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT REPORTS ‘04

NO. 1 / 2004—EXCAVATOR CONTACTS HIGH VOLTAGE UNDERGROUND CABLE

INCIDENT

During the excavation of footings for new plant at a quarry, the bucket of an excavator hit and damaged an underground 22,000 volt power supply cable. This exposed live wires, caused the cable’s protection to be activated and the power supply to be disrupted. The operator and nearby persons were not injured in the incident, but the potential for serious injury or death was very high.

CIRCUMSTANCES

The incident occurred because the quarry operator failed to maintain an appropriate site electrical plan that detailed the exact location of all underground power cables and failed to have in place a system that ensured the required hazard identification and Risk Assessment was carried out before the excavations started. In this particular incident the cable was about 800 mm below the surface. Some underground cables are located only 450 mm below the surface.

NO. 2 / 2004—DANGEROUS UNGUARDED PUG MILL

INCIDENT

During a routine health and safety audit at a quarry, it was observed that an unsafe Pug Mill was being operated. The Pug Mill was fitted with a number of access covers to enable cleaning of the mixers. These covers could be easily opened without the use of tools. In addition there was no interlocking of the power supply and persons could gain access to the dangerous rotating mixers. The mixer blades created many entanglement areas and pick points. Although no persons had been injured, there was potential for serious injury or death. It was also found that manufacturer/ supplier of the Pug Mill had supplied the plant in an unsafe and unguarded condition, and had not provided the workplace with any information about the safe operation of the Pug Mill or about the hazards and risks associated with the use of the Pug Mill.

CIRCUMSTANCES

The Pug Mill manufacturer/ supplier failed to have a system in place that ensured the Pug Mill complied with the relevant occupational health and safety requirements. It also failed to ensure the required safety information was provided at the time the Pug Mill was supplied to the quarry. The quarry operator failed to have in place a adequate system that ensured before purchasing and commissioning any goods or services that an appropriate check is made on compliance with the relevant occupational health and safety requirements.

NO. 3 / 2004 -ENTANGLEMENT INCIDENT

INCIDENT

A quarry contractor sustained skin removal injuries and multiple fractures to his hand when his hand became entangled in a conveyor.

CIRCUMSTANCES

A product sand stockpile was over filled unintentionally causing the crossover discharge conveyor to become buried and to stall. Employees hand shovelled surplus sand to free the conveyor. The cross-over conveyor was switched on but failed to start. A fitter climbed up on top of the feed conveyor frame and attempted to clean sand from the cross-over conveyor with his hand. The cross-over conveyor started and caused his hand to become entangled.

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