Mineral Mines & Quarries Inspectorate | Alert | No.447 V 1 | 30 May 2024

Operator injured after fall from dump truck ladder

What happened?

After climbing part way down a dump truck's access ladder, an operator has fallen to the ground resulting in a broken arm.

How did it happen?

The incident in under investigation; however, the preliminary findings are:

• A fire extinguisher had been installed adjacent to the handrail of the dump truck's access ladder.
• The position of the fire extinguisher prevented the handrail from being held while ascending or descending the lower part of the ladder (see Figure 1).
• The operator was unable to maintain three-points of contact when descending the ladder and fell to the ground.

Key issues

• Plant selection, design and installation practices and processes at the quarry did not ensure that the installation of the fire extinguisher did not affect safe access and egress.
• After the fire extinguisher was installed, risk management practices did not identify that three-points of contact was not always possible when ascending or descending the truck's access ladder.

Recommendations

• Comply with section100(1)(a) of the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2017 to confirm that:
  • plant is fit for its intended use and use in its intended work environment.
  • plant is ergonomically compatible with persons operating plant.
  • plant has appropriate provision for safe access and egress.
• If plant is repaired or modified in a way that could affect how it's intended to be used, ensure that Sections 110 of the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2017 is complied with.
• Ensure that pre-start checklists of equipment with access stairs and ladders include checks to detect any deterioration of safety of access and egress to equipment.
• Ensure that a rule for maintaining three points of contact while ascending or descending a ladder is covered in the induction, written procedures/standard work instructions and risk assessment / job safety analysis / personal risk assessment (e.g. Take 5).

References and further information

· Section 100 and 110 of the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation 2017

· Guidance Note QGN 28 Fall prevention