Mine operators are being advised to keep their mechanical engineering control plans updated, following an incident caused by rigging equipment failure at an underground coal mine in New South Wales.
The state’s resources regulator has recommended safety actions for the industry after a potentially dangerous situation occurred late last month involving uncontrolled belting.
“During the installation of conveyor belting onto a newly installed drift conveyor system, a winching system was configured to wind belting through a transportable conveyor drive and loop take-up assembly,” the NSW Resources Regulator’s report said.
As the belt was winched into the loop take-up, the synthetic sling which is used to rig the winch rope to the belt pulling tongue failed.
“This resulted in a loss of friction to the drive drum, which allowed the belt to slip back through the drive and loop take-up and begin travelling inbye along the carry side,” the report said.
“The belting gradually accelerated down the drift until the inbye end made contact with a roll of belt hung just inbye of the bootend. The belting continued to travel and concertina inbye of the bootend.”
The inertia of the remaining belt mass on the drift caused another section to concertina about 150 metres outbye of the bootend.
The cause appeared to be the failure of the synthetic sling connecting the winch rope to the belt-pulling tongue.
The team set out specific control of access to all areas inbye of the winch before the commencement of the task.
Nobody was exposed to the uncontrolled belting or the failure of the rigging equipment.
In light of this, the regulator recommends that mechanical engineering control plans must set out the control measures for risks associated with the unintended release of mechanical energy by considering safe work systems for people dealing with plant or structures.
Mine operators should also review how workers and supervisors are trained to recognise the potential hazards associated with all energy sources, including the load introduced by winching equipment.
“This is especially important when there is the potential for stored energy to be released without warning,” the report said.
“When using slings, operators must ensure that they are appropriately rated for the job, fit-for-purpose and free of any wear and tear.”
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