Inspectorate highlights lifting and rigging dangers

A spate of lifting and rigging mishaps including a case this month that saw a worker lose an eye have sparked a mining safety alert from the Coal Inspectorate. The most serious recent incident saw Mastermyne employee Gavin Feltwell killed when a suspended load weighing about four tonnes shifted during work underground at Moranbah North in March. But the inspectorate has listed a raft of other high-potential incidents and serious accidents that have raised concerns about lifting and rigging activities, especially where chain blocks and lever hoists were used, as well as those where loads were being drifted - that is being moved horizontally while suspended. They include: - June 16 2022, workers were replacing a crushing and screening plant conveyor belt when a rope snapped and struck a worker in the face. A worker suffered serious injuries including the loss of an eye. - October 11 2021, a worker was replacing a deflector shield on a transfer chute. While trying to restrain the load manually, he fell from a height of about 3-4m and suffered serious injuries, including leg injuries. - A slew crane was lifting a concrete panel from a horizontal to a vertical position. The tilt panel pivoted towards the crane, momentarily trapping the dogman between crane and the tilt panel. The worker suffered serious crush injuries, including a fractured pelvis. - A worker was replacing a vibrating motor on a dewatering screen in a coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP). The 270kg motor was rigged using one 3-tonne cumalong and two 1-tonne cumalongs with beam clamps. The vibrating motor fell while being manoeuvred and struck the worker, who suffered a compound leg fracture. The Inspectorate said lifting and rigging tasks in underground mines, CHPPs, and maintenance activities may involve complex lifts involving multiple lifting devices, such as chain blocks and lever hoists and drifting of loads. Failure of lifting equipment can potentially result in a dropped load or object, while failures of rigging equipment can potentially result in an uncontrolled vertical or horizontal movement of the load or equipment. Review of recent incident investigations identified multiple causes. In some cases mine standard operating procedures (SOPs/MOPs/standards) including those for selecting, maintaining and using lifting plant operations were not followed. Work planning including the design and planning of lifting activities was inadequate or an approved lifting plan was changed, and the review and approval processes not followed. Another factor involved supervisors who did not have relevant competency, experience, or understanding of the lifts signing off lift plans and did not inspect the site prior to the lift. Some cases involved coal mine workers being positioned inside exclusion zones when loads moved in an uncontrolled manner. Other causes included overloading of lifting components, poor slinging practices, use of inappropriate lifting equipment, and failure to use available lifting jigs and tools. The Inspectorate also identified instances where mine site training and competency requirements did not adequately assess individuals’ capabilities and experience to undertake specific lifting tasks - particularly complex lifts.

Inspectorate highlights lifting and rigging dangers

Industry Queensland

Related News

Changing of the guard for regional development group

Liftoff for survey hoped to bring game-changing results

Savannah eyes Electric Light gold exploration target

Get access to breaking mining news, now.