Safe Work Australia has published the Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities Australia 2020 report, which provides the latest detailed national statistics on all workers and bystanders fatally injured at work.

While the rate of work-related fatalities has decreased 25% over the last decade and 50% since 2007, any workplace death is unacceptable.

Tragically, 194 people were fatally injured at work in 2020.

Understanding the causes of injury and the industries most affected can help reduce work-related fatalities.

The report details that 68% of worker fatalities occurred in the following industries:

• Transport, postal and warehousing (49 fatalities)
• Agriculture, forestry and fishing (46 fatalities)
• Construction (36 fatalities)

The most common causes of worker fatalities were:

• Vehicle collisions (41%)
• Being hit by moving objects (13%)
• Falls from a height (11%)

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Safe Work Australia was alerted to an issue on the Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS) with the skin and sensitisation notations missing from the workplace exposure standards entries on HCIS for an extended period of time.

This issue has now been rectified, with all relevant notations for all exposure standards now appearing on HCIS.

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In August 2021, a worker died after being struck by a mobile crane in pick-and-carry mode (lift and shift). Early investigations indicate the man was acting as a dogger and in control of a load when he was holding a tag (tether) line attached to the load that was being relocated at a workplace. It appears the worker was walking between the front of the mobile crane and the load when he was hit by the crane.

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What happened?

A worker was seriously injured while performing maintenance work on the bucket of a 30-tonne excavator. The bucket suddenly detached from its quick hitch, swinging about 1.5 metres before it fell to the ground. The worker was knocked over by the bucket, hitting their head on the concrete floor and sustaining a crush injury to their leg.

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Week Ending Friday 15 October, 2021 – 43 Reportable Incidents, 3 Summarised

Dangerous Incident  IncNot0040901  Coal Processing

Summary: A team of fitters were replacing a hydraulic cylinder above a conveyor. A hired elevated work platform (EWP) was required to access the cylinder. The EWP basket was moved into position to allow removal of the old cylinder. After releasing the joystick (while the operator’s foot was still on the deadman switch), the basket moved up approximately 200 millimetres. The safety bar contacted the cylinder support structure, which activated and stopped the EWP.

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Week Ending Friday 17 September, 2021 – 48 Reportable Incidents, 3 Summarised

Dangerous Incident  IncNot0040738  Construction Materials
Principal mining hazard: Roads or other vehicle operating areas

Summary: A 50-tonne excavator was operating on a pad of material that was being fed into a mobile crusher when the air conditioner failed. Consequently, the operator swapped to a 20-tonne excavator. While setting up to cut down the pad, the operator reversed off the edge of the pad, rolling backwards down the 3.5 metres face.

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Week Ending Friday 3 September, 2021 – 37 Reportable Incidents, 1 Summarised

Dangerous Incident  IncNot0040631  Underground coal mine

Summary: The lift frame welds failed and dropped the load of an Eimco 130 LHD. At the time, the operator was stopping at a set of block lights. The LHD was carrying a QDS pod loaded with four pallets. The operator was uninjured.

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Summer 2020/21
BACKGROUND
As summer approaches, Queensland coal mines have already started to experience hot weather conditions. Persons with safety and health obligations must ensure that exposures to heat are being effectively managed to an acceptable level of risk at their mine sites.

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In June 2021, a worker died from injuries sustained while he was using a 9-inch (230mm) angle grinder to cut the base of a structural steel member at a commercial construction site in Brisbane. It appears a small metal shard was violently ejected from the cutting work and struck his neck. No guarding was fitted to the angle grinder at the time.

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One man is dead and two others have been taken to hospital after an underground coal mine collapse overnight north of Emerald in central Queensland.

Queensland police said they were called to an industrial incident involving a section of a mine collapsing at Lilyvale about 11:00pm.

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This safety bulletin provides safety advice for the NSW mining industry.

Issue
The NSW Resources Regulator has recently received two notifications of dangerous incidents involving water carts. In each case, the operator has identified that they were distracted at the time of the incident.

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A worker was splitting a rock with a hammer and bolster when he felt a muscle strain.
He continued working however the pain became worse and he stopped the task to rest. Occupational injuries have been  increasing over recent years with sprains and strains, cuts and abrasions, and broken limbs becoming far too common.
There were 21 such incidents in the three months to June 2021.

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Week Ending Friday 9 July, 2021 – 18 Reportable Incidents, 1 Summarised

Dangerous Incident  IncNot0040269  Surface Mine

Summary: A watercart passed through the site wheel wash enclosure and travelled down a sealed asphalt ramp towards the weigh bridge. The watercart was spraying the ramp to remove a build-up of dirt and silt that had dropped from vehicles using the ramp. The operator lost control of the watercart and tried to brake and steer it into the bank but couldn’t stop. It then collided with a truck and dog trailer waiting on the weighbridge. The operator had mistakenly assumed the truck was in the process of exiting the weighbridge when he began his descent.

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For the purpose of a rescue at height drill, a person on the main deck suspended himself 1.5 metres from the deck in a safety harness with a ladder stand-by, while crew gathered on the bridge.

After contacting crew on the bridge by radio, the person in the safety harness stepped on the ladder for a second time to reposition the safety harness. After this, the person stepped off the ladder to make it look like a real situation for rescue.

A fall arrestor was used for lifting the person to disconnect him from the sling he was hanging on. During this phase of the exercise, he passed out and lost his consciousness whilst being lifted.

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Verify the effectiveness of Isolation

Department: Lead Smelter    Location: Filter Floor
Brief Description
While workers were conducting maintenance on the filter, the main isolator was observed to be locked in the ‘ON’ position, with the LCU switched to ‘Maintenance’. The lockout was found to be ineffective. The preliminary findings from the incident indicates that:

• multiple workgroups had locked onto the isolator, however the effectiveness of isolation was notverified
• the design of the isolator allows for it to be locked in ‘ON’ position
• there was no markings on the isolator to indicate ‘ON or OFF’ position.

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WPHS Qld Alert – Palfinger stabiliser locking system

Purpose
The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the risk of unintentional extension of stabilisers on vehicle loading cranes (VLCs) and, in particular the operation of the stabiliser locking system on some models of Palfinger vehicle loading cranes (VLCs).

Background
In 2020 the left-hand stabiliser on a Palfinger PK 10000 VLC extended while the truck was being driven and struck another vehicle.

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On Tuesday 7 July 2021, a worker ingested an unknown quantity of unleaded fuel while priming a siphon to transfer fuel from one portable generator to another. He was taken to the nearest medical centre where the doctor that examined him admitted him to Middlemore A&E. He underwent a nasal lavage and was kept under observation for several hours before being discharged.

A hire crane was on site when the wire rope pulled through the terminal end wedge and socket. The investigation found that the wedge and socket were not a pair, and the wedge was too wide. It did not put adequate clamping pressure on the rope.

Falls are a major cause of fatalities in the extractives sector, both in New Zealand and
internationally. Of the now nine fatalities in the extractives sector since 2011, six of them were a result of falls.

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What Happened?

A Soilmec SR45 drill rig was carrying out normal piling operations. As the Kelly bar was retracted from the pile the Kelly bar guide passed through the electronic limit switch that cuts out the system. Before the hydraulics could cut out, the Kelly rope crimp and swivel connected with the rope sheave guard, shearing the six bolts retaining the guard. This resulted in the guard coming off the mast and falling to the ground.

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WorkSafe New Zealand is warning businesses that it is unacceptable to allow staff to operate cranes and other machinery without direct supervision or appropriate training. The warning comes after a fatal incident in Christchurch in January 2020.

An employee at Glaziers Choice Limited, trading as Stake Glass, was crushed by a pack lifter crane implement which was attached to a 2.5 tonne pack of glass. The overhead gantry crane was controlled by a handheld remote control, and the employee had climbed up the pack lifter to hook the crane hook onto it.

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Incident Alert

There have been two near misses involving delivery of concrete to customer’s sites.

Incident 1 – A mixer driver filled a concrete skip on a customer’s site. A construction site operative attached a metal lifting chain to the concrete skip and then directed a plant operative to lift it with a loadall. When the skip was at a height of approximately 2m, the lifting chain snapped and the skip fell. It landed at the rear passenger side of the lorry. Fortunately, the driver had stepped away from the lifting zone. This had the potential to be very serious. The driver noted that after the incident, the site personnel then lifted the skip with a worn webbed sling.

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Incident Alert

An individual travelling in the passenger seat of a vehicle was killed when he was struck by a flying object. Press reports have suggested that the flying object was a piece of rock ejected from between the dual tyres of a tipper truck. Although the full details of this incident are still being investigated, this incident alert is being issued to raise awareness of the potential hazard that can be presented by rocks, stones or other items being trapped between the dual tyres of vehicles. This can occur on some types of on-site mobile plant, LGV’s, tippers and mixer trucks. The hazards include:

• Rocks being ejected at high velocity as the vehicle travels with a risk of other vehicles and pedestrians being struck
• Damage to tyres resulting in failure and sudden deflation/disintegration resulting in the loss of control of the vehicle and its associated risks to others.

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On 12 August 2019 a worker suffered fatal injuries arising from a collision between a reversing dozer and a light vehicle at the Snapper Mineral Sands Mine.

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Week ending 2 July, 2021 – 32 Reportable Incidents, 2 Summarised

Dangerous Incident – IncNot0040210 – Underground Coal Mine

Summary: During a maintenance period, two separate crews were working on the long wall belt. The first crew, at 5 cut through, isolated and locked out using the remote isolation system. The second crew, at 3 cut through, later isolated and locked out at a different location, using the same remote isolation system. When the first crew removed their locks and isolation, the deputy called the control room operator to start the belt. The pre-start warning sounded and the belt began moving while a person at 3 cut through was standing on the belt. Another worker pulled the lanyard which operated a switch and stopped the belt. There were no injuries.

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The operator of a dump truck parked on a dump to allow hot seat changeover. The operator was unable to activate the primary access ladder to exit the truck. After several attempts, the operator restarted the truck, exited via the emergency ladder and then activated the ground level e-stop and isolation switch. The truck then rolled forward approximately 50 metres, contacted a windrow and rolled back approximately 17 metres before stopping. The truck was not parked in a fundamentally stable manner.

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Mine Fatality – 7 June 2021

A miner entered the top of a primary feed hopper to break up and remove a large rock. Raw material that remained on the sides of the hopper sloughed off and engulfed the miner.

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Three separate incidents have recently occurred onboard UK marine aggregate dredgers where individuals undertaking routine tasks on board received debris in their eyes.Two of these incidents were the result of undertaking activities where the risk assessment should have flagged up the need to wear the correct eye PPE. One was grinding and the other washing down the deck. In both cases, safety glasses were being worn when more appropriately goggles should have been required.

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A person discharged a corroded handheld cartridge-type, dry chemical powder fire extinguisher which had been condemned during an annual third-party inspection. When the internal carbon dioxide cylinder was activated to energize the fire extinguisher, the unit ruptured at the corroded base, exploded, and struck the IP causing critical head injuries.

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UK Bulletin 103 -Crushed Arm Hutte 204 Incident

After moving and setting up the Hutte 204 rig the operator and the IP were having a conversation about changing a component. Both parties were standing next to the rig. The rig operator wanted to adjust the outrigger position. The operator activated the remote control to make the adjustment however the outrigger moved in the opposite direction to that expected.

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Our hearts and thoughts are with the family, friends and workmates of a quarry worker fatally injured at a small farm quarry. Details have not yet been released and we need to respect those involved by not speculating on the circumstances. What we do know is that a rock fell onto an excavator fatally injuring the operator. Falls are a major cause of fatalities in the extractives sector, both in New Zealand and internationally. Of the now nine fatalities in the extractives sector since 2011, six of them were a result of falls.

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Silver Lake Resources underground operations at an Eastern Goldfields mine in WA has been suspended after the death of a contractor on Thursday morning (10 June 2021).

Silver Lake Resources Limited issued a statement advising that a MacMahon Mining Services contractor at its Daisy Complex mine at Mount Monger has passed away. An investigation into the circumstances of the contractor’s passing is under way and the Western Australia Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has been notified. Underground operations at the Daisy Complex mine have been temporarily suspended in accordance with normal statutory requirements.

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ICMM publishes 2020 safety performance data of members

The International Council on Mining and Metals has released a report that benchmarks the 2020 safety performance of its members. ICMM company members recorded 44 occupational fatalities in 2020.

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Company director jailed for death of worker in WA

Company director has recently been handed down a prison sentence in the Magistrates Court.

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Building failures during severe weather events

Queensland coal mines have recently experienced severe weather events characterised by very high wind gusts, hail and heavy rain.

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Near miss following unplanned movement of autonomous haul trucks

The Government of Western Australia has raised a safety alert following the unexpected movement of two autonomous haul trucks during operator boarding.

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Driller enters charged shot area

A drill operator accessed the charged shot area without authorisation at an open cut coal mine in NSW.

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For further reading including details of the AMSJ Mine Safety App Launch, International News and Products and Services News, please click the link below.

Further Reading

This incident summary provides information on reportable incidents and safety advice for the NSW mining industry. To report an incident to the NSW Resources Regulator: phone 1300 814 609, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

AT A GLANCE

A high-level summary of emerging trends and our recommendations to operators. Week ending Friday, 5 March, 2021.

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Flash accident

Description
When working in an area with a steep slope, a boom lift slipped while the stabilising skids were being extended.

Cause
•  Steepslope (21%)
•  The boom lift was positioned with the rear on the slope
•  The 4 wheels were lifted off the ground.

Consequences
One of the workers injured his back while trying to control the machine. The boom lift slid on the stabilising runners for several metres and tore off a neighbour’s mailbox. The consequences could have been dramatic.

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What happened?

A Higgins bitumen sprayer was positioned under the plant gantry hose in preparation to transfer bitumen. The Sprayer Operator advised the asphalt plant operator of the bitumen quantity required. The asphalt plant operator then proceeded to turn the tank valve on from the control room.

At approximately 10.15am after turning the valve on, bitumen started flowing out of the gantry line onto the bitumen sprayer and surrounding surfaced area. The Sprayer Operator, who was standing approximately 10m away from the bitumen sprayer, then started yelling out to the asphalt plant operator to stop the pump from the control room.

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Circumstances

• Overturning of an excavator while handling a strut: excavator not facing the direction of travel when travelling with a load on a slope
• Overturning of a toucan aerial work platform while travelling across a ramp: the aerial lift gets onto the ramp with the counterweights on the low-point end of the ramp
• Overturning of a mini-excavator while transporting soil: the operator runs one of the loaded mini-excavator’s track over a pit.

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Brief Description

An Operator was observed on video footage exiting the cabin and climbing on top of an underground loader via the articulation area/midship steps and rear steps to adjust vent.

Whilst Operator was on top of the loader, the engine was still running. The Operator was not safeguarded by a fall prevention system or protection device.

On review of the footage, the Operator was observed to conduct the activity on more than one occasion.

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While an excavator was working at the toe of a bench, a rock fell out of the face hitting the excavator. The excavator was damaged, but no injuries were sustained by the operator.

The MinEx field booklet, “Slope stability in opencast mines and quarries,” states that: “A catch bund is an important control to minimise exposure of quarry workers to ground failure hazards and contain rock falls. The dimensions and position of the catch bund will depend on the size of the potential slope failure or rockfall.”

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This safety alert provides safety advice for the NSW mining industry.

Background

Issue
A workbox detached and fell two metres from an integrated tool carrier(IT). The workbox hit the ground and rolled 90 degrees onto its side. Two mine workers located in the workbox,were partially ejected from the workbox and suffered minor injuries.

Circumstances
The incident occurred on 9 January 2021.
Two workers were tasked with installing a secondary vent fan from the roof (backs) in the main decline of an underground metalliferous mine using an integrated tool carrier (IT) and combination fan lifting/ workbox. The workbox, with fan restrained, had been attached to the IT during the previous shift and parked in a nearby adjacent heading ready for the commencement of work. In line with the requirements of a pre-start inspection, the operator believed he had ‘confirmed’ engagement of the attachment locking pins by lifting the work box from the ground and tilting it forward. He did not visually inspect the locking pins to ensure they had fully engaged the workbox attachment.

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This incident summary provides information on reportable incidents and safety advice for the NSW mining industry. To report an incident to the NSW Resources Regulator: phone 1300 814 609,24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

AT A GLANCE

High-level summary of emerging trends and our recommendations to operators. Please note the reportable incident total is recorded for the period 16 January 2021 to 22 January 2021.

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The purpose of this Safety Alert is to highlight the risk of serious or fatal injuries when working on or near unguarded machinery.

Background

In late December 2020, a Territory cattle station worker failed to return after checking bores on the property. The worker was later found entangled in a bore pump with fatal injuries. Preliminary findings indicate the workers clothing got caught in the bore pump’s moving parts.

Possible contributing factors

The pump’s pulley’s and belt were unguarded exposing the worker to a number of hazards including entanglement, friction and abrasion hazards, when the pump was running.

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South Australia has amended restrictions on travellers arriving in South Australia from the Greater Melbourne region.

The changed restrictions are available on the South Australian Government’s Cross-Border Directions web page as Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 36) (COVID-19) Direction 2021, which came into effect from 12 midnight Thursday 11 February 2021.

The updated directions also maintain the previous cross-border restrictions on travellers from prohibited zones in Western Australia and New South Wales.

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On December 14, 2020, two miners died when a back failure occurred in a large four-way intersection. The miners were pumping sealing grout in the intersection when blocks of salt and anhydrite fell from beneath a slickenside onto the miners.

Best Practices
• In areas of excessive span or adverse geology:
• Install supplemental ground support to control strata movement.
• Install sag monitors or extensometers to detect ground movement or strata separation.
• Drill and evaluate test holes for strata separation using a borescope or scratch test.

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A worker was using a hammer and bolster to break rock at a quarry when he missed the bolster and hit his wrist, resulting in bruising to his wrist.

The task was early in the workers shift and he admitted to “rushing” the job.

There has been a significant increase in occupational injuries from the use of hand tools and other equipment over the past 18 months.

Many of these have been due to; lack of attention by the worker, use of inappropriate tools and equipment, and unsuitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

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55 reportable incidents, 3 summarised below

DANGEROUS INCIDENTS

Summary: A worker was trapped under the cab of a loader when the cab lowered onto him as he was working beneath it. The worker was trapped for about three minutes before he was released. Preliminary investigation found that the cab was unsupported at the time. No locking pin or chock was used to hold the raised cab in place. The worker sustained minor injuries.

Comments to industry:  This incident is under investigation and a full report will be published at a later date. Under no circumstances should an operator work beneath an unsupported cab. OEM recommended chocks and locking pins should be used to secure the raised cab in place.

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This Summer, ensure that you know the hazards of working in heat and in air pollution

This time last year, parts of Australia were badly affected by extreme heat and bushfires. Working in heat and/or in air pollution can be hazardous and can cause harm to workers in both indoor and outdoor work environments.

Employers must take precautions this summer and know the risks of working in heat and/or air pollution and protect worker health and safety.

Over the 10 years from 2009-10 to 2018-19p, there were 1,774 workers’ compensation claims resulting from working in heat.

1,679 of these claims were from working in the sun

• 940 of these claims were cancer-related
• 441 of these were claims regarding heat stroke or heat stress
• 95 of these claims were from working in hot indoor conditions

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A number of Australian workers have been seriously injured or killed because vehicles haven’t been safely immobilised while work is being done on or around them. Duty holders must ensure trucks, trailers, and mobile plant are safely immobilised when they exit these vehicles or work around them. Minimum controls such as handbrakes and chocks could prevent damage or worse death/injury.

Recommendations are provided to reduce being hit or crushed by vehicles.

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What happened?

At 2.59 pm Monday 6th July. The Piling crew attached the Rigs auxiliary line to a casing and started to lift it with the line still secured behind the stowage bracket located on the rotary head of the rig. The Banksman would normally release the line from behind the bracket before it’s attached to any load, this was overlooked in this instance.

As the auxiliary rope came under tension to lift the casing the rope pulled the bracket off the rig sending it flying through the air 5 metres above ground level and dropped onto the site boundary fencing and then dropped into the public footpath. Fortunately No one was on the footpath.

The Bracket weighs approx.1.5kg and is 300mm x 400 mm x 25 mm.

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A worker was removing an accumulator from a raise boring rig on the surface laydown area. During this activity, he suffered a fluid injection injury to his left-hand ring finger. The worker was admitted to hospital and underwent surgery.

Mine operators are reminded that effective isolation and energy dissipation are critical risk controls when working on high pressure fluid systems. Methods for dissipation of energy must be established and communicated for work on each part of a high pressure system

This incident summary provides information on reportable incidents and safety advice for the NSW mining industry. To report an incident to the NSW Resources Regulator: phone 1300 814 609 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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What happened?

At approximately 6.30 a.m. a work vehicle was driving down Falls Road towards the Wyllie Road office. The vehicle attempted to cross the causeway which had approximately 300mm of water running over it.

During the crossing the rear passenger wheel dropped off the causeway, resulting in the vehicle being incapacitated. The vehicle was then pushed by the flood water off the causeway. The driver exited the vehicle by climbing out the window.

An incident investigation is currently underway.

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This video is for businesses to use during their new starter induction process. It provides your new staff with a high level overview of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to health and safety.

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Heavy rain recently has caused ground instability, including washouts and slips over the top of the North Island and Gisborne areas.

Such weather and saturated ground inevitably impacts on mine and quarry sites, making haul roads slippery and stockpiles and benches potentially unstable.

Fall of ground has killed workers in New Zealand and slippery conditions have led to loss of control of vehicle incidents.

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In August 2020, a man suffered serious injuries after falling from an earthmoving machine he was apparently doing maintenance on. Early investigations indicate the man fell while exiting the machine.

Investigations are continuing.

IMPORTANT: These findings are not yet confirmed, and investigations are continuing into the exact cause.

Preventing a similar incident

The operation of powered mobile plant which includes but is not limited to earthmoving machinery (e.g. graders, scrapers, bulldozers and excavators) at workplaces, exposes people to a range of health and safety risks. These include:

• plant operators and service personnel falling from earthmoving equipment during onsite inspection, maintenance or repairs. (Source – Worksafe Victoria)
• the plant colliding or contacting people or objects such as other vehicles or plant and energised powerlines
• the plant overturning
• objects falling on the operator.

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These translated guides help a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) protect its workers from the risks of working with silica and silica containing products, like engineered stone. It provides information on how to eliminate or minimise those risks to keep workers safe.

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The workplace exposure standard (WES) for respirable crystalline silica (silica dust) has recently halved. If you work with materials like engineered stone, concrete or tiles, use the new silica checklist to see if you need to implement additional control measures in your workplace so that the WES is not exceeded.

Safe Work Australia has published information, including a checklist, to help persons conducting a business or undertaking (for example, an employer or small business owner) to understand the changes to the WES for silica dust, and to assess and effectively manage the risks of silica dust in their workplace.

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The Codes of Practice and supporting Guidelines are designed to promote health and safety standards within the New Zealand mining and quarrying industry. While MinEx has tried to ensure the Code and Guidelines will comply with applicable legislation, it is entirely the user’s responsibility to ensure that their practices comply with all legal requirements, and users of the Codes and / or Guidelines acknowledge that MinEx has no responsibility or liability whatsoever in relation to the contents of the Codes, or in respect of anything done or not done in reliance on the Codes and / or Guidelines.

Further, while the Codes provide an outline of relevant legislation, the information presented is in summary form only and MinEx makes no warranty as to its accuracy and completeness.

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Plant that has the potential to move under strain should be secured in position where possible. A worker was found unresponsive in a load haul dump machine (LHD) on the main travel road at an underground coal mine. Attempts to revive the worker were unsuccessful. The LHD was running at the time the worker was found.

This incident is under investigation and the cause of death is unknown at the time of publication.

This incident summary provides information on reportable incidents and safety advice for the NSW mining industry. To report an incident to the NSW Resources Regulator: phone 1300 814 609 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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What happened?

On 19 August 2020 a carousel wear plate, weighing approximately 1 kilogram, fell from a height of 12 metres from the drill mast and landed on the deck of the drill near the cab door.

The Mines Inspectorate is aware that this is not an isolated incident, having raised Safety Alerts on similar incidents previously.

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What happened?

On 27 July 2020 two Coal Mine Workers (CMWs) received serious injuries from rib spall while working on a continuous miner in a development panel heading.

The incident occurred as the CMWs were installing roof support and extending ventilation tubes. An inspection of the site revealed that the machine mounted rib protection system installed on the continuous miner did not provide an effective control for this hazard. The distance between the top of the rib protector and the mine roof impacting the CMWs.

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Since January 2018, more than 180 interactions with windrows (or bunds) have been reported on Western Australian mine sites. These involved vehicles breaching windrows, with incidents resulting in injuries to workers and one fatality. ​

Windrows are a safety device to prevent workers in vehicles, and those working in the areas below, from being exposed to more severe hazards when a vehicle has a loss of control. Regulation13.7(5) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations states that the manager of a mine must ensure that an adequate windrow or bund of material is provided on the outer edge of roadways in the open pit and on the outer edge of any roadway on the surface adjacent to a bank or steep slope.

Mines inspectors have identified more than 150 defects and issued notices related to the inadequacy of bunds or windrows. An analysis of serious injuries and fatalities in the last two years shows that:

• in 80% of cases, the windrow was not adequate for the vehicle impact
• in 60% of cases, the vehicle was not travelling parallel to the windrow, impacting the windrow perpendicular to, or up to an angle of 45 degrees.

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A mechanic was standing on the track of a dozer in order to remove the seat to access a hydraulic hose that had burst. The seat was very heavy and too much for one person to carry.

The mechanic slipped and fell from the dozer track fracturing his shoulder.

COVID-19 distancing protocols may have driven the decision to conduct this task alone.

Falls are a major cause of fatalities in the extractives sector, both in New Zealand and internationally. Of the eight fatalities in the extractives sector since 2011, five of them were a result of falls.

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Energy and mining companies across the supply chain have worked smarter and more efficiently to keep essential industries in business and at the same time, continued to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of the workforce.

Each year, the Premier’s Awards in Energy and Mining recognises the sectors’ dynamism and persistence. The Department for Energy and Mining is delighted to launch this year’s call for entrants to these prestigious awards.

This is a chance for companies and individuals to highlight the achievements of the past year, which have demonstrated excellence and provided value to South Australia.

The awards’ portal is now open, and submissions can be made until 5pm on Friday 2 October.

In a year of social distancing, the 2020 Premier’s Awards event will move to a live, online broadcast.

Please join in the celebrations by saving the date for Thursday 26 November.

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This training module covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19 including:

• What is COVID-19?
• Symptoms to watch out for
• How to keep yourself and others safe
• What to do if you think you might have COVID-19
• Tips and additional information

Users must register, but registration is open to anyone.

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The Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and Safety Committee is pleased to announce the Fully Funded Accredited Mental Health First Aid Officer Training in the last week of April.

MAQOHSC continues to support industry and promote the importance of workplace mental health and is committed to supporting industry with high quality evidence based funded projects, programs and training.

South Australian Mines and Quarries, will be directly supported to increase and promote good workplace mental health, through funded dedicated training for workers or nominated staff to become workplace accredited mental health first aid officers.

Mines and Quarries can nominate workers to complete Accredited Mental Health First Aid Officer training and then appoint them in the workplace to:

• Promote positive mental health in the workplace to all workers
• Provide mental health guidance material to workers
• Complete tool box and information talks on mental health topics
• Provide mental health first aid within their worksite to workers as needed, at their level of competence and training
• Assist workers and escalate any mental health related matters if required in a prompt and appropriate manner according to their relevant workplace policy and procedures.

For further information or to make an enrolment please telephone: 8204 9842 or email maqohsc@sa.gov.au
Numbers are limited.

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28 January, 2021

Alcoa of Australia Ltd was today fined $210,000 in the Perth Magistrates Court and ordered to pay $75,000 in costs after a contractor fell to his death at the company’s Kwinana Alumina Refinery in 2015.

The contract worker was part of a crew removing scaffolding from inside a bank of processing vessels or ‘digesters’ which were offline for maintenance and refurbishment work.

Having climbed up the digesters to where entry points were located, the contractor inadvertently entered a digester where workers had already removed the scaffolding. He entered the upper entry manhole backwards, apparently expecting to drop onto a scaffold work platform but instead fell around 12 metres.

There was no barrier or guard on the manhole to prevent inadvertent access and the digesters did not have markings to distinguish them from one another.

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FQM Australia Nickel Pty Ltd was today fined $19,000 in the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court following an incident where a telehandler rolled over endangering two workers at the Ravensthorpe Nickel Mine on 11 January 2017.

The mining operator pleaded guilty after being charged with failing to provide a safe working environment under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 (WA).

FQM Australia Nickel contracted Southern Engineering and Agriculture (SEA) to remove and then reinstate piping around a tailings dam.

The SEA workers were attempting to move a pipe assembly by slinging it to a telehandler’s headboard when one of the slings broke and the load shifted, causing the vehicle to roll onto its side.

The telehandler was not equipped to lift a suspended load and the operator had not been trained in, or demonstrated competency in, the use of the telehandler for that purpose. The load weighed three tonnes, which was more than the rated lifting capacity of the telehandler.

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