Welding electric shocks rising in mining sector

An increasing number of welding electric shock incidents in the mining sector have recently been reported to the NSW Resources Regulator.

Throughout 2018, five incidents were reported — compared with five that have taken place during the first two months of 2019 alone.

During one incident, a contractor boilermaker suffered an electric shock while welding a grizzly panel in a quarry. The earth had been positioned on the opposite side of the grizzly to the area being worked on, with the boilermaker lying on the grizzly. When a programmable logic controller (PLC) code was loaded, a spray bar over the grizzly activated.

In another incident, a fitter had washed down a dozer in a sand mine and was preparing to weld. Another worker saw the fitter positioned awkwardly so went to assist. After getting a welding glove, he held a pipe in place. The worker felt a tingle up his arm when the fitter struck the arc.

While undertaking repairs on a walkway, a trades assistant and boilermaker were involved in an electric shock incident. The trades assistant was holding a kick board in position to be welded. As the boilermaker struck the arc, the assistant felt an electric shock through the right-hand glove. He had his shoulder against a steel column at the time, while the boilermaker had the earth return on the opposite side to the trades assistant holding the work piece.

Another worker was shocked in his left hand while using a MIG welder in a surface workshop of an underground coal mine. He had rested the handpiece tip on his gloved hand to steady the handpiece when the shock occurred.

The NSW Resources Regulator has made a number of recommendations for mine operators to reduce the risks of this type of incident. It states that operators must review their risk assessments and update procedures so that workers are compelled to change PPE whenever necessary to remain dry.

Operators should also ensure that adequate supplies of PPE are available, as well as work area controls like mats, duck boards and screens, and provide boilermakers with appropriate training on the establishment of a safe earth path in their work areas.

Welding equipment maintenance needs to be scheduled appropriately, while supervision arrangements for welding work must be reviewed and supervisors trained in the relevant controls they should be assessing.

The NSW Resources Regulator also recommends that mining operators review ‘MDG25 Safe Cutting and Welding at Mines’.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Dejan Sarman