Mine Safety NSW has warned that routine hose maintenance inspections should include a condition assessment of hoses with particular focus on wear, impact and squashing between the equipment.

In another incident a flat return roller on a steel core surface belt failed and caused the outer lagging of the return roller to catch fire. The roller had been replaced with a non-identical replacement roller and had been in service for only four weeks before the incident.

“Where non identical rollers are used to replace failed rollers the mine operator needs to be satisfied the replacement rollers are capable of preforming equally to the original specified roller,” NSW Mine Safety said.

“Where a change has taken place, a change management review needs to be undertaken to ensure any additional hazards have been identified together with appropriate risk controls,” he said.

“The long term storage of spare rollers needs to provide protection from environmental elements, such as heat, cold, rain, in some instances snow and ice as well as ultra violet light.”