Mine safety incidents at NSW open cut and underground coal mines, as well as an underground metals mine, have drawn the attention of the state’s Resources Regulator.

A worker an open cut coal mine was fitting a pin to the left-hand rear strut of a haul truck and thought it was secured in place when the first incident occurred.

Workers detached a sling and removed the forklift and jib, which were being used to support the strut.

They were in the process of realigning the cylinder with the mounting boss to allow the pin to fully engage when the cylinder fell/rotated back onto the worker, grazing the worker’s abdomen and seriously lacerating his leg.

“The potential for this incident to have a fatal outcome cannot be understated,” the NSW Resources Regulator said.

“It is vital that the hazards and risks associated with removing and replacing rear strut cylinders on haul trucks be fully assessed and documented with appropriate controls developed and implemented.”

The second incident occurred when another worker at an underground coal mine lost consciousness following an incident while installing a ventilation tube.

The worker’s fingers became sucked in between the flexi duct and a ventilation tube but he eventually managed to free himself.

Following the incident, the worker went into shock and was in and out of consciousness for about a minute.

The Regulator said mine safety control measures and procedures for installing ventilation tubes while auxiliary fans are in operation should include identifying:

• safe operating ranges for workers installing ventilation tubes
• the sequence of steps to take to safely add ducting inline
• guards on the most inbye tube, to minimise the risk of workers being sucked into or against the ducting while working adjacent to it.

The last incident saw a fire break out on an integrated tool carrier that was working in a decline in an underground metals mine elsewhere in NSW.

The operator smelled smoke but thought it was the coal seam. It wasn’t until another miner noticed the fire and alerted the operator that the fire suppression system was activated.

The system completely extinguished the fire while all workers were evacuated to refuge chambers.

“Mine operators are reminded that maintenance systems must be comprehensive and should consider all reasonably foreseeable risks of fire or explosion,” the Regulator said.

“Non-destructive testing inspections should be scheduled at pre-determined intervals to minimise the risk of equipment failure.”