Mines safety alert no. 77 | 07 June 2002 | Version 1
Dumping over tip heads
Investigations are ongoing and further information may be published as it becomes available. The information in this publication is what is known at the time of writing.
We issue Safety Notices to draw attention to the occurrence of a serious incident, raise awareness of risks, and prompt assessment of your existing controls.
Mine type
Coal mine - surface
Incident
During night shift, a CAT 785 haul truck backed through a safety berm on an overburden dump and rolled, end-over-end, before finally coming to rest some 30m below. Fortunately, the driver only sustained minor injuries.
Equipment
CAT 785 haul truck.
Hazard
Falling over dump edge, poor work place practice and poor lighting.
Cause
The safety berm at the tipping edge varied in height from adequate to less than adequate.
The safety berm was not straight and the driver used the berm / previous load as a stop for the truck's rear wheels.
The operating procedure in place at the mine stated that the rear wheels of truck were to stop no closer than 1m from the berm when dumping.
A lighting plant threw shadows to the off-drivers side of the truck, which was the side to which the driver reversed to the active end of the dump. The driver could therefore not clearly see the location or the state of the safety berm when reversing to spot his load under that mode of operation.
The driver had removed his seat belt just before reversing.
Comments and recommendations
The incident had a high potential to be a fatal accident and the operator is considered to be extremely lucky to suffer only minor injuries.
The practicalities of reversing orientation and line of sight needs to be considered when adopting an operating methodology for dumping activities.
All surface mines should:
- review Risk Assessment and SOP for dumping on overburden dumps
- inform the workforce through tool box talks that using the safety berm as a stop for the rear wheels of the truck in dumping operations is a hazard unless control are in place (There are alternative dumping strategies)
- review lighting standards at the tip head area
- review standards of safety berms and procedures for ensuring correct construction and maintenance of these barriers
- revisit instructions for adherence to safety belt usage.
Contact: minesafetyandhealth@dnrm.qld.gov.au
Issued by Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines
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