Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) has made a number of safety recommendations following several concerning incidents involving pick and carry cranes.
Pick and carry cranes are widely used in coal mines, and in the year to date, more than 10 high-potential incidents have been reported to the Coal Mines Inspectorate, including five rollovers, loads falling, mechanical failures as well as uncontrolled movements and collisions.
The Crane Industry Council of Australia estimates articulated pick and carry cranes currently account for somewhere between 64 per cent and 68 per cent of all crane incidents.
The recommendations include reviewing the mine safety and health management system including standard operating procedures (SOPs) for selecting, maintaining and using the lifting plant, and ensuring specific risk-based controls for pick and carry crane operations are included and documented.
The RSHQ also recommends implementation of a site-specific pick and carry crane form or permit that includes an assessment of site conditions and load derating factors, a site inspection of the travel route, a review of site authorisation processes for lifting and cranage, and a review of crane load monitoring systems.
The investigations into the numerous incidents involving pick and carry cranes identified some common causes, including a lack of familiarity with site requirements specified in lifting and cranage SOPs by the coal mine workers.
Mine site training competencies were also noted as a cause, as it was often not adequately included to assess pick and carry crane operations.
When all the factors were considered, the RSHQ determined that the carrying capacity of the crane may be significantly reduced, resulting in rollovers whilst travelling.