Worker 'lost consciousness' after becoming trapped on WA mine site
Details of two significant safety incidents at WA mine sites earlier this year have been laid out in reports to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, but the department will not disclose what sites the incidents took place on or the companies involved.
The incident reports were lodged with the department earlier this year, and while both documented failures in technology and training, they are now used mainly as educational tools to prevent further incidents on site.
A worker lost consciousness during this incident at a WA mine site earlier this year.
As a result, companies and locations are not disclosed in the reports, which a department spokesman said was common practice if the incidents did not go before WA courts.
In one incident that took place in July this year, a worker lost consciousness when his head became trapped while he used a mobile elevating work platform.
The operator was accompanied by a surveyor on the platform, which was about 27 metres above the ground, when he moved the platform basket platform upwards.
It’s understood he was leaning over the controls when the basket moved and his head became trapped against the conveyor structure above.
An alarm went off and alerted a worker below who, after a short delay, lowered the basket.
When assessed, it was determined the operator received injuries with the potential to be serious, and he had lost consciousness for a length of time.
The report stated the job hazard analysis completed by the unnamed company did not identify the hazard, and made several recommendations to prevent the incident from happening again, including ensuring adequate training for workers and installing protective cages and sensor devices.
Another report laid bare details from an incident in May this year, where a 600,000 litre raw water tank burst and the out-rush of water damaged and displaced site equipment.
The failed water tank.
No personnel were on site at the time, but the report found the incident could have been dangerous if workers had been present.
The report found the water tank had corroded and inadequate maintenance management saw it deteriorate over time.
It recommended regular inspections of site water tanks, ensuring timely repairs by competent staff and ensuring the structure and its components were maintained in a safe and stable condition.
Hannah Barry is a Fairfax Media journalist based in Western Australia, focused on breaking news.
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