AMSJ » Mining accident |Operator ejected from door of LHD
Compliance Plant Maintenance Vehicle Safety

Mining accident |Operator ejected from door of LHD

mining accident LHD
An operator was ejected from the door of a LHD after it struck the wall at a metalliferous mine

UPDATED 6/2/2019 An operator was ejected from the door of a Load Haul Dump at a metalliferous mine when a parking brake was inadvertently engaged.

According to available regulator reports, a load haul dump  (LHD) vehicle was descending a decline in an underground metalliferous mine when its bucket hit a wall.  The door inadvertently opened, activating a door interlocking device. The action of the interlock resulted in the application of the parking brake. The operator was ejected from the cab and apparently was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the incident.

The regulator has advised that seat belts and door interlocks must be treated as safety- critical items on the mobile plant.

UPDATED INFORMATION: We have been advised on 6/2/2019 that a local site based investigation has confirmed that there was no evidence of the operator ‘wearing’ or ‘not wearing’ a seatbelt. We stress that the use of a seat belt and installation of seat-belt interlocks may have contributed to lessening the severity potential of the incident. 

Site-based personnel have advised that the equipment in the incident was ‘relatively’ new and was not fitted with a manufacturer-installed interlocking seat belt devices that prevent the operation of the LHD unless seatbelts are worn.

The NSW Resources Regulator has highlighted ‘Where defects are identified, the plant must not be operated.’

The regulator has reinforced the provisions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 Section 28 detailing worker requirements while at work.

‘This includes complying and co-operating with directions and procedures given, as well as the wearing of seat belts and personal protection equipment’ the regulator stated.

Mining Accident | Section 28 of the Work Health & Safety Act states the duties of workers’

28   Duties of workers

While at work, a worker must:

(a)  take reasonable care for his or her own health and safety, and

(b)  take reasonable care that his or her acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons, and

(c)  comply, so far as the worker is reasonably able, with any reasonable instruction that is given by the person conducting the business or undertaking to allow the person to comply with this Act, and

(d)  co-operate with any reasonable policy or procedure of the person conducting the business or undertaking relating to health or safety at the workplace that has been notified to workers.

Do you know more about this incident? If it is safe to do so, please share your thoughts and experiences by emailing miningeditor@amsj.com.au.

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