Heavy plant component uncontrolled movement lands $810K fine
A mine owner and operator has been fined $810,000 — and ordered to pay $11,096.20 in costs — by the Albany Magistrates Court over an incident in which, when a heavy plant component known as a Roman Shield moved and struck a worker, he sustained a serious spinal injury.
The incident occurred on 18 March 2023 when the injured worker was carrying out maintenance on the Saprolite Stacker. The company transported nickel ore to stockpiles via conveyor stackers at the processing plant, when the injured worker and two co-workers unfastened the Roman Shield without first securing it against uncontrolled movement, the Roman Shield rotated backwards and part of it struck the worker, pinning him against part of the structure.
The company did not instruct the workers to secure the Roman Shield before unfastening it, warn them of the risk of uncontrolled movement or instruct them to stay clear of the potential line of fire, WorkSafe WA said. Additionally, the Job Hazard Analysis for the task did not include those controls and the allocated supervisor did not directly supervise the work.
“Uncontrolled movement of plant is a well-known hazard that can result in serious injuries,” WorkSafe WA Commissioner Sally North said. “Effective supervision, task-specific risk assessments and clear work instructions are critical in preventing incidents such as this.”
The injured worker required spinal fusion surgery, extensive treatment and rehabilitation. The injured worker continues to experience ongoing pain and reduced mobility.
Following the incident, WorkSafe WA said the company engaged a specialist safety consultant, developed Roman Shield-specific risk assessment procedures and work instructions, introduced more comprehensive Job Hazard Analyses and enhanced training programs for new employees and supervisors.
Information on plant, machinery and equipment is available here, on WorkSafe WA’s website.
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