A faulty measuring instrument was one factor that resulted in burnt machinery.
A mine worker recently went overboard while refuelling at an undisclosed open-cut coal operation in New South Wales.
The employee had doubts about whether the auto-fill nozzle clicked off when the diesel pump’s tank was completely full. He checked the instrument panel before continuing to refuel.
“The fuel gauge indicated the tank was 87 per cent full, so the operator pushed the nozzle back on and held it in position to continue filling the diesel tank,” the NSW Resources Regulator said in a safety bulletin.
However, the gauge reading was inaccurate. Fuel began spilling out of the tank vent valve onto heat insulation material, causing the flammable liquid to ignite.
“The operator noticed diesel flowing from the breather, so they disconnected and reeled the hose back to the truck,” the bulletin said.
“Fuel made contact with the exhaust lagging and ignited. The flame was extinguished using a fire extinguisher.”
Investigators urged employers to instruct workers not to overfill fuel tanks.
“Workers must never override safety devices when refuelling. This includes repeatedly filling after the nozzle has clicked off, tying the nozzle handle back to avoid holding it or modifying nozzles to fill machines that are not compatible,” they said.
“Breathers should be position clear of ignition points and hot surfaces.”
Click here to download the full safety bulletin.
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