The Department has advised that the mine assess the total belt road for strata stability and complete all identified secondary support requirements prior to recommissioning conveyor.

In a separate incident a rod mill charger cradle loaded with approximately 3 tonnes of grinding rods structurally failed and collapsed while an operator was attempting to move the cradle by manual handling methods at a NSW mine.

The rods spilled to the floor narrowly missing the operator.

Inspection and maintenance procedures failed to identify significant corrosion, and additional faults, in the structure of the cradle.

Operating procedures required manual handling of the cradle which placed the operator at risk.

Motorisation will be considered by mine.