ENVIRONMENT

Work platform shift woes

THE New South Wales Resources Regulator has reminded mine operators to check all pieces of hired equipment thoroughly following a dangerous incident involving an elevated work platform, at one of the state’s mines.

 Image of the incident supplied by Resources Regulator

Image of the incident supplied by Resources Regulator

A worker was lucky to escape uninjured when the EWP he was on suddenly lurched forward and rolled 1m while being repositioned.

The movement happened when the worker put his foot on the machine's dead man switch, before operating the hand controls.

Once he released the dead man foot switch the machine stopped.

According to the regulator, all pieces of hired equipment must have a thorough mechanical and electrical inspection to assess operations.

Mine operators should also ensure they have mechanical engineering control plans in place that set out control measures for when machines are unintentionally operated.

The regulator said function testing should also be included as part of the introduction of plant to site process and pre-use inspections by operators.

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