Operator injured after fall from dump truck ladder

What happened?

After climbing part way down a dump truck's access ladder, an operator has fallen to the ground resulting in a broken arm.

The incident in under investigation; however, the preliminary findings are:

A fire extinguisher had been installed adjacent to the handrail of the dump truck's access ladder.
The position of the fire extinguisher prevented the handrail from being held while ascending or descending the lower part of the ladder (see Figure 1).
The operator was unable to maintain three-points of contact when descending the ladder and fell to the ground.

Plant selection, design and installation practices and processes at the quarry did not ensure that the installation of the fire extinguisher did not affect safe access and egress.
After the fire extinguisher was installed, risk management practices did not identify that three-points of contact was not always possible when ascending or descending the truck's access ladder.

Comply with section100(1)(a) of the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2017 to confirm that:
- plant is fit for its intended use and use in its intended work environment.
- plant is ergonomically compatible with persons operating plant.
- plant has appropriate provision for safe access and egress.
If plant is repaired or modified in a way that could affect how it's intended to be used, ensure that Sections 110 of the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2017 is complied with.
Ensure that pre-start checklists of equipment with access stairs and ladders include checks to detect any deterioration of safety of access and egress to equipment.
Ensure that a rule for maintaining three points of contact while ascending or descending a ladder is covered in the induction, written procedures/standard work instructions and risk assessment / job safety analysis / personal risk assessment (e.g. Take 5).