SAFETY UPDATE (Issue 21)

Haul Truck Tips on to Back While Dumping at Stockpile

INCIDENT
A rear dump haul truck rolled over and landed on its tray. The truck had slid approximately 2m down the side of a stockpile and then rolled.

The operator exited the cabin of the truck and jumped to the ground before the truck rolled over the edge. The operator suffered minor bruising to his ankles.

CIRCUMSTANCES
A rear dump truck was reversing on top of a subbase material stockpile to dump its load. A front-end loader was removing material from the base of the stockpile.

The operator felt the truck starting to slide down the stockpile, exited the cabin and jumped to the ground on the driver’s side. The truck then slid part way down the face of the stockpile and rolled over onto its tray.

This incident could have been far more serious as a short time before the incident a front-end loader was at the base of the stockpile removing material. The rear dump truck may have come into contact with the loader. The operator risked serious injury when jumping from the dump truck.

INVESTIGATION

• Procedures were in place requiring a protective earth bund to be maintained along the edge at the top of the stockpile but they were not followed
• The dump truck operator was reversing near the blind side of the stockpile
• The weather conditions and visibility were good at the time of the accident
• The dump truck operator was competent
• The dump truck was in good mechanical condition

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Review risk assessments, standards and safe work procedures for tipping on and management of stockpiles
• Ensure adequate training, inspection, maintenance and supervision for compliance with stockpile standards
• Ensure that operators of heavy vehicles fitted with a ROPS understand the need to wear seat-belts
• Cabins of all vehicles should be cleaned and free of unsecured objects that may injure a person during an accident
• Inform the workforce through tool box talks and safety meetings about the hazards associated with dumping operations on top of stockpiles
• Conduct regular workplace inspections and task observations to ensure compliance with correct operating procedures and standards
• Investigate proximity warning devices when working near faces

INCIDENT REPORTS

INJURY TO DRILLER—FLYING MATERIAL FROM DRILL HOLE
While drilling a hole for a gas riser from surface to underground the collar of the hole became pressurised from compressed air. This resulted in a sudden release of high velocity air and drill cuttings. The driller was found about 10m from the hole with serious injuries.

INJURY TO EXCAVATOR OPERATOR
An excavator operator sustained serious lacerations to his lower leg when the end of a 6m x300mm timber pole entered the cabin of his machine.

DRILLER’S OFFSIDER INJURED WHILE OPERATING AN EXPLORATION DRILL RIG
The rod clamps of an exploration drill rig closed down onto the foot of a driller’s offsider.

HANDS REATTACHED
A freak accident at a NY industrial plant saw a worker’s hands completely severed. The man was rushed to hospital where doctor’s miraculously reattached his hands.

EXCAVATOR ROLL OVER
An excavator rolled on to its side after the edge of a 2.5m raised rock pile gave way. The operator was taken to hospital.

FALL OF GROUND
A catastrophic fall of ground took place at a metalliferous mine. A significant quantity of rock fell from an area of supported ground resulting in property damage and production loss.

SERIOUS ELECTRIC SHOCK
An electrical service engineer was rendered unconscious when he received multiple electric shocks and suffered burns to the head, right arm and left hand.

8 TONNE HAMMER COMES OFF PILE DRIVER
An incident occurred at a Melbourne Docklands site where a hammer weighing approximately 8 tonne dislodged itself from a piling rig.

THIRD OF US PLANT FIRED
Factory managers suspicious that workers might be using illegal drugs shut down a recreational vehicle plant in the US for a day to test them, then fired a third of the 120 employees who tested positive.

FALL FROM DOZER
An operator fell more than two metres from a bulldozer to the ground and sustained multiple injuries.

FIRE IN ENGINE BAY
A fire occurred in the engine bay of a dozer when the fuel line fitting came loose in the engine allowing fuel to spray over the turbocharger which ignited. The fire was extinguished using the onboard fire suppression system.

FACE COLLAPSE
A dozer was side cutting the toe of a 12m high overburden face when the face collapsed. The collapsed material covered the right hand front portion of the machine including half way up the cabin door. The laminated glass panel in the door caved in and the operator received a gash on his leg requiring stitches.

CLOSE CALL FOR FITTER
A fitter had parked beside an excavator he was repairing. Upon returning to his vehicle after completing his work the excavator and adjacent Euclid truck started up. The truck drove over the fitters vehicle with the fitter standing in close proximity.

HAUL TRUCK TIPS ON BACK
A read dump haul truck rolled over and landed on its tray. The truck had slide approximately 2m down the side of a stockpile and then rolled.

FATALITY REPORTS

FIRE EXTINGUISHER KILLS WOMAN
A woman died and a man received a broken leg after a freak accident in which an extinguisher hit them both, striking the woman on the head.

The extinguisher tipped on to the concrete, which caused the valve to open. The extinguisher became like a rocket, rushing along the ground hitting a worker in the ankle and then became airborne.

MINER STRUCK BY ROCK DEFLECTING OUT OF STOPE
A loader operator sustained fatal injuries when struck by a rock which deflected out of an open stope. A rock fell from the back inside the stope, deflected off the rill 3m inside the stope and struck the operator’s right thigh.

CONSTRUCTION WORKER CRUSHED
A NY construction worker was crushed when his boss ran him over with an excavator. The victim was standing in front of the machine and threw a cell phone to the operator. In reaching for the phone the operator inadvertently hit the controls and ran over him.

MAN DIES AFTER BEING PULLED INTO MACHINERY
A LA jail inmate died when he was caught in a piece of machinery at a rendering plant. The man was feeding things into an auger when he got caught in the machinery. The rotating piece of machinery pulled the man into the grinder, killing him.

Coroner’s Inquiry—Patrick Stevens, Underground Mine, Bendigo

The Coroner’s office has recently handed down the findings of the investigation into the death of Patrick Stevens in the underground workings of the Bendigo Mining NL underground operation at Bendigo during February 2001.

If you would like a copy of this report please contact the CMPA and a copy will be either sent to you via post or email. Alternatively, please visit the CMPA website: www.cmpavic.asn.au to download a pdf version of the report from the Latest News section of the site.

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