27.05.2015

Platform fatality underground

An investigation into a platform crushing fatality at an underground mine in Australia on May 15th has called for technical changes.

The incident occurred at Newcrest Mining Telfer gold mine in a remote part of the Pilbara region in the Great Sandy Desert in northern Western Australia. Josh Martin, 28, was working from a Charge Up platform. He was fatally injured when the platform suddenly moved upwards, crushing him against the roof of a cross cut.
Please register to see all images

A picture of the incident from the report

According to the preliminary findings of the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) investigation, Martin was leaning over the front of the basket when he accidentally activated the controller, raising the basket into mine roof. The report goes on to say that the Dead Man switch on this machine was located on the top of the controller, meaning that in a crush situation it could have made the controller ‘live’.

Martin was working with a spotter at the time who was helping him to guide the charge up hose into the blast holes.
Please register to see all images

A typical Charge Up platform

Vertikal Comment

This is a tragic incident but has very little relationship with the aerial work platforms (EWP) used above ground, apart from the fact, of course that crushing incidents can and do occur. It seems that some basic designs already incorporated into regular boom and scissor lifts are not employed in specialist mining equipment?

With the issue of this investigation report, the general media in Australia is already referring to the incident as an EWP fatality and calling for action. The fact is that while this is an elevated work platform in the strictest interpretation of the word, it bears little resemblance to the tens of thousands of machines in Australia that bear that name. It will however encourage the adoption of secondary guarding systems for boom lifts, something that is already looking increasingly likely in Australia.

Another very interesting point here is how fast the DMP was able to investigate and then publicly publish a preliminary report. We understand from blogs and comments that the information has already led to the review of the operation of Charge Up platforms in order to avoid a repetition at other mines. This is exactly how an investigation should be handled.