Coal Inspectorate | Alert | No.451 V 1 | 12 August 2024
Fatality involving lifting using a pick and carry crane
What happened?
On Saturday 3 August 2024, a coal mine worker suffered fatal injuries when struck by the boom of a pick and carry crane. Queensland Police Service attended the scene before releasing it to Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) to commence an investigation into the incident.
How did it happen?
An investigation into this incident is ongoing. It’s believed coal mine workers were in the process of repositioning a donga using a pick and carry crane. During lifting operations, the pick and carry crane rolled over. The toppling crane-boom struck and fatally injured a coal mine worker.
Recommendations
RSHQ is unable to provide specific recommendations relating to this incident while it is under investigation.
However, previous incidents involving pick and carry cranes revealed recurrent issues, learnings and recommendations that should be considered at sites that use this equipment. These include:
- Have ‘no go zones’ or ‘exclusion zones’ in place for works around pick and carry cranes.
- Avoid travelling loaded pick and carry cranes across slopes or uneven ground as these could destabilise the crane or load.
- Ensure operators are trained and experienced and can demonstrate details of the cranes limitations, use of derating charts and monitoring systems.
- Review the use of crane load monitoring systems and consider fitting if not currently installed.
- Ensure the training and assessment material for operators includes the understanding of the use and function of the load monitoring systems, alarms, and system triggers.
- Review whether a pick and carry crane is the right machinery for lifting.
- Review site authorisation processes for lifting and cranage.
- Conduct checks to confirm the field effectiveness of identified lifting controls.
RSHQ recommends all mine site personnel read Safety Bulletins 199 and 218 which relate to pick and carry cranes and include an animation.
Additional recommendations from the Queensland Mines Inspectorate may be published during and following the investigation into this incident.
Investigations are ongoing and further information may be published as it becomes available. The information in this publication is what is known at the time of writing.
We issue Safety Notices to draw attention to the occurrence of a serious incident, raise awareness of risks, and prompt assessment of your existing controls.
References and further information
- Pick & Carry Crane Incident – Animation Video; Resources Safety & Health Queensland; 25 March 2024; Bulletin 218
- Pick and Carry Cranes; Resources Safety & Health Queensland; 7 August 2023; Bulletin 199 V2
Contact: RSHQ Coal Inspectorate, QldMinesInspectorate@rshq.qld.gov.au
Issued by Resources Safety & Health Queensland
Placement: Place this announcement on noticeboards and ensure all relevant people in your organisation receive a copy.
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