Mining company fined after worker’s arm caught in conveyor - 15.7.24
A mining company located just outside of Cue, WA, has been fined $400,000 plus costs of $5743.30 after a worker’s arm was trapped in a conveyor at the company’s gold processing plant. The company pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
The incident occurred on 21 February 2020; two workers had been contracted to remove built-up material with tools from under a conveyor while it was still running. Although the conveyor belt was protected, a person could reach under the guarding and access dangerous moving parts as the guarding stopped around 800 millimetres above the ground.
One of the workers became entangled in the return roller and belt while clearing built-up material from underneath the operational conveyor with a shovel. A co-worker pulled an emergency lanyard to stop the conveyor and used a crowbar to lift the belt, allowing the contractor to remove his arm; he received lacerations on his left arm. WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said the worker was fortunate not to lose a limb, and urged companies to implement and enforce suitable isolation procedures for plant and machinery.
“In this instance, the worker had completed a one-hour online safety induction, but it did not cover conveyor safety or isolations. This was the supervisor of the job’s first day overseeing the plant and he had not received any specific training to perform that role. Companies must ensure all workers have the required training and [are] assessed as competent on the tasks assigned to them,” North said.
After the incident, the company extended the conveyor guarding and reinforced safety training protocols. WorkSafe’s code of practice outlines the hazards associated with machinery, including unguarded conveyors.
Source: safetysolutions.net.au