There were three notifiable injuries in the September quarter reported to the Resources Regulator as a High Potential Incident whereby the involved personnel were unable to carry out normal duties for greater than seven days.

 

In the first incident, an operator crushed his left hand middle finger in a load haul dump nip point. This resulted in a hair line fracture of the fingertip and a lost nail.

 

In the second incident a mining official was walking along a conveyor belt on good ground when he felt his knee "pop". This resulted in medical investigation which revealed ligament damage requiring surgery.

 

Finally, an operator twinged his back when attempting to lift a heavy hose.

Other incidents reported included on where a tradesman was exposed to a blown hydraulic hose. 

 

The fluid directed away from the tradesman but he was observed over a period of time to ensure that a pressure injection injury was not sustained. 

 

There was no such issue and the tradesman returned to work. The incident was reported as a high potential incident.

 

In another high potential incident, an operator in a production panel noticed that when he lowered a shuttle car boom and turned off the control to lower, the boom then lifted slightly. This incident was immediately rectified and not person was at risk. 

 

Wollongong Coal said the mine has since improved its safety performance through improved start of shift communication sessions, safety accountability and the better use of proactive personal risk assessment tools. 

 

The Health and Safety Committee, which was formed in July, has met twice during the period and is working towards improved safety culture at the mine with the use of proactive safety tools.

 

"Wongawilli is continuing its drive to meet its compliance obligations and be injury free. Its strategy is that the behaviour that underpins a zero harm workplace facilitates a productive and profitable operation," Wollongong Coal said. 

 

"Additional resources have been applied to these objectives and new management is in

place to deliver it."