Fatal incident in NSW underground mine

A worker has died at Ridgeway underground mine in the NSW Central West in an incident which occurred at around 10 pm on Sunday 6 September.

The machine operator was found by a work colleague pinned between a machine and the side wall of an underground extraction drive (tunnel).

It is understood the deceased worker was operating a modified shotcrete machine (concrete sprayer) converted to a high-pressure water cannon. This is used to direct high-pressure water at arched rock (hang up) to bring the rock down to floor level at the drawpoint located beneath the stopping area. Gravity flow moves the ore to the drawpoint so it can be loaded and removed, while the operator directs high-pressure water from a remote position via a remote control device.

The machine operator worked for PYBAR Mining Services, a contractor engaged at Ridgeway, and reportedly worked at the mine for nearly five years.

Ridgeway is one of two operating underground mines forming Cadia Valley Operations (CVO), mining gold and copper about 25 km south-west of Orange in Central-West NSW. CVO is owned by Newcrest Mining Limited.

NSW Police and the NSW Department of Industry, Mine Safety were called and attended the mine.

The Mine Safety Investigation Unit said it will provide an Investigation Information Release within the next 14 days to provide information on the cause and circumstances of the incident to the mining industry.