When conducting a daily inspection on the longwall tailgate motor, the electrician discovered a gap in the banana plate greater than 0.5mm.

“When checking enclosure gaps as part of daily inspections and post maintenance, the feeler gauge used should be less than the maximum allowable gap for the enclosure,” Mine Safety said.

In another underground incident, an operator drove an LHD under ventilation ducting near an auxiliary fan and dislodged it.

He attempted to repair it alone with the fan still in operation when the ducting dislodged further resulting in his being sucked into the edge of the ducting. This resulted in lacerations to the left side of his face.

“Identifying hazards in the workplace prior to commencing work is a fundamental step towards minimising the risk of injury,” Mine Safety said.

“Mine operators are reminded that workers should conduct a pre-work assessment for each task that is undertaken. Also, routine tasks such as replacing ventilation tubes should have a safe work procedure in place.”