Rigger's death highlights importance of risk management

The NSW Department of Industry Mine Safety has published its investigation findings into the death of a rigger at Boggabri Coal Mine last year.

Mark Daniel Galton, 51, was crushed between a mobile elevated work platform and the underside of a large steel beam on 21 May 2014 while he was working for Thiess Sedgman Joint Venture (Thiess Sedgman).

The report states his workmates rushed to free him but they were unable to resuscitate him and he died at the scene.

The report also revealed the risk of a crush injury while operating an elevated platform under a fixed structure was foreseen and well documented, and the controls put in place to manage the known risk were lower order hierarchy of risk control measures.

Investigators concluded that “the incident highlighted the importance of having an effective risk management program in relation to specific complex three-dimensional movements of mobile elevated work platforms in proximity to fixed structures”.

It further stated that when a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) is required to move in proximity to fixed structures, higher order risk management controls to prevent crush injuries should be identified and implemented.

The full report and the list of recommendations can be viewed at the NSW Mine Safety website.