Worker injured by rock bolt puncture at mine site

Background

An employee was working as a trainee underground drill operator. While manoeuvring around the off side of the drill, the employee stepped into a recently completed drill hole collar. The drill hole collar (Figure 1) had been grouted, but was covered by water (Figure 2) which hid a previously installed rock bolt.

The rock bolt punctured the employee’s gumboot and penetrated the employee’s ankle resulting in a laceration. The employee required medical assessment from an orthopaedic surgeon and received stitches for the laceration.

Safety issues

Hazards that may pose a risk to employee health and safety when working in and around mining plant on uneven and undulating terrain which has not been adequately prepared or maintained include:

• slips, trips and falls
• hazards hidden by water and other materials, including previously installed mining hardware
• poor visibility of the work area due to the lack of lighting
• limited access in and around work area
• work areas that are not inspected before and during work

Recommended ways to control risks

Mine operators have a duty to identify all hazards at a mine and assess the associated risks, including the risks associated with mining plant.

Help reduce risks associated with working in and around plant on uneven, undulating terrain by doing worksite inspections before and during work.

Worksite inspections can help ensure that the following controls reduce risks to health and safety:

• Ensure pre-task and pre-site inspections target the work area floor to ensure any hazards are identified and controlled.
• Provide employees with information, training and instruction about how to identify and manage work area hazards.
• Where possible, when operating underground plant such as drill rigs, the work area should be located on a flat, solid surface such as a concrete pad.
• The work area should be maintained to limit undulations and allow for adequate drainage.
• Provide enough lighting for the task to be completed safely.
• Backfill previous drill hole collars to ensure they are flush.
• Do regular inspections of work areas. Look for signs of damage to the floor and repair as soon as possible with road base to ensure flat work areas.
• Ensure employees wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Appropriate PPE includes, but is not limited to, hardhat, eye and hearing protection, steel capped work boots or puncture resistant gumboots and wearing of long-sleeved clothing.

Information, instruction and training

Mine operators must provide employees with the necessary information, instruction, training or supervision they need to work safely. This includes when working with plant such as site preparation and maintenance.

Mine operators must ensure that the information, instruction and training provided is monitored, reviewed and, if necessary, revised in order to remain relevant and effective.

Mine operators are required to keep a record of training provided, and documents must be readily accessible to employees.

Consult with employees, contractors and health and safety representatives

Mine operators must, so far as is reasonably practicable, consult with employees and independent contractors about health and safety matters that directly affect or are likely to directly affect the employees. They must consult with any health and safety representatives (HSRs), with or without the involvement of employees directly. This includes when identifying, assessing, and controlling risks and hazards.

Employees and independent contractors can provide important information about what risks look like in their work. This will help ensure all aspects of risk are considered.

Legal duties

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act), employers must, so far as is reasonably practicable, provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to the health of employees, including labour hire personnel and independent contractors. Employers must eliminate the risks associated with plant, so far as is reasonably practicable. If the risk cannot be eliminated, it must be reduced, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Employers must also provide employees and independent contractors with the necessary information, instruction, training or supervision to enable them to do their work in a way that is safe and without risks to health.

Where plant is used in the workplace, employers also have duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations). Employers must, so far as is reasonably practicable:

• identify all hazards associated with the installation, erection, commissioning, decommissioning and dismantling of plant at the workplace
• control risks in accordance with the plant hierarchy of control

Inspect plant to ensure that risks are regularly monitored.

Under the OHS Regulations mine operators must also:

• regularly review processes and systems to ensure they are effective
• identify all mining hazards at their mine and assess associated risks, so far as is reasonably practicable
• implement risk controls that eliminate or reduce risks, so far as is reasonably practicable
• establish and implement a safety management system for the mine, which provides a comprehensive and integrated management system for all risk control measures implemented in relation to mining hazards
• consult with employees and HSRs, including when identifying mining hazards