Safety alert issued after worker’s arm entangled at quarry site

Worksafe Victoria recently issued a safety alert reminding mine and quarry operators about managing the risks associated with plant and access to plant danger areas.

The alert was issued following an incident in which an employee was injured while performing maintenance activities on a large operating rotary dryer.

The employee was close to the main drive gear of the rotary dryer when their right arm became entangled. The employee’s arm was partially amputated. The main drive gear was approximately 230mm wide.

The alert recommended a number of ways to control risks:

• prevent access to danger areas by installing suitable guarding
  • if access to the danger area is not necessary during operation, maintenance or cleaning, the guarding must be a permanently fixed physical barrier
  • if access to the danger area is necessary during operation, maintenance or cleaning, the guarding must be an interlocked physical barrier. Access must only be allowed at times when the area does not present a risk. The barrier must prevent access at all other times.
  • if it is not reasonably practicable to use a fixed or interlocked physical barrier, the guarding must only be able to be altered or removed using tools
  • if it is not reasonably practicable to use any of the above, use a presence sensing safeguarding system
• conduct pre-use inspections of all plant
• conduct maintenance in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations
• provide information, instruction, and training to employees regarding the operation, inspection, maintenance, and isolation of plant
• provide and maintain safe systems of work for isolation of plant (known as ‘lock out tag out’)

Mine and quarry operators must regularly consult with employees and any health and safety representatives when identifying, assessing and controlling risks. Employees can provide important information about what risks look like in their work. This will ensure all aspects of risk are considered.

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.

Under the OHS regulations the alert said mine operators must also:

• 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 identified risks
• consult with employees when identifying mining hazards and assessing risks