Trapped/Crushed By Rib Coal Beside Continuous Miner

Information:

What

While operating the right-hand roof bolter rig on a continuous miner the operator was trapped and crushed by a large piece of fallen rib coal.

Why

This incident occurred because recovery personnel were poorly equipped to deal with this situation - a person trapped by a large piece of coal (2 tonnes) in the confined space between continuous miner and rib. Consequently recovery of the victim took one hour.

Recommendations

Recommendations include fitting all continuous miners having on-board bolting rigs with rib protection systems, and ensuring all Emergency Response Plans recognise this hazard scenario and incorporate a strategy that will ensure, as far as practicable, that recovery can be achieved in 30 minutes or less.

Organisation:

Department of Natural Resources and Mines

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Jurisdiction:

Relates to Queensland (QLD)

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