The NSW Resources Regulator has reported an incident where two workers got injured by a metal spreader bar at an open cut coal mine.
According to the report, a worker was struck in the face by a metal spreader bar while in the process of reconnecting the chain on a feeder breaker. Another worker applied a small amount of pressure to a 30tonne ram, applying a compressive force to the spreader bar before the injured worker had moved to a safe standing zone.
The Regulator said workers should ensure they use fit-for-purpose equipment when undertaking tasks. Safe standing zones should be determined where hydraulic pressure is being applied to objects and there is a potential for unintended movement or equipment failure.
Workers should communicate their intentions clearly and ensure that their actions don’t put others in a position of danger.
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READ RELATED Worker suffers severe finger injury while using core-drill
MinEx has reported an incident regarding a production worker had significant finger injury while using core-drill in Humes – Hornby manufacturing (Christchurch).
According to the report, a production worker was core-drilling 50mm deep holes into concrete pipes, and while the worker was holding onto the 450mm-long rotating drill-bit, it has grabbed his left glove, twisted the glove off, and his 5th digit (little finger) was separated from his left hand at the second knuckle, with it unable to be re-attached during subsequent surgery.
The worker was following the instructions as laid out in the SOP (created and last reviewed in March 2013), was following current industry-accepted practices, and was experienced in the task being undertaken, incl. being a site trainer for the task.
The risk of entanglement with the rotating part had not been identified as a risk by the site, although they were in the process of investigating a new drill to further manage the potential risk of the drill jamming and injuring a worker’s shoulder and/or wrist.
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