Near Hit / Dangerous Occurrence at Highland Valley Copper
While drilling a crest hole with the steel down 13 meters, the rotary blower and motor dropped off the drill head falling about 9 meters. The operator called the 425 (drill / cable foreman) and reported the problem. The operator felt it was unsafe to exit the cab or leave the drill on the crest. He raised the steel and moved the drill to a safe spot. The 452 (Shovel crew foreman) arrived to have a look. The operator then removed the stabilizer from the steel and felt that the deck wrench was damaged. Later it was determined that the deck wrench was not damaged in the incident. All activity was halted until the foremen arrived and froze the scene. The scene remained frozen until the following day. The incident was then reported to the provincial mines inspector and ICAM investigation initiated. There were no injuries and minor equipment damage to drill and damage to the rotary blower as a result of the incident. Upon investigation it was found that the following were contributing factors to the incident: Wrong sized and grade of bolts. Improper torque settings on bolts, as well as inadequate installation, periodic inspection of bolts and a failure to recognize or inspect gaps between mounting plates. Luckily the was no injury in the incident as a result of the training material and signage are clear that the driller are not to be at the base of the mast while drilling. The action plan moving forward to prevent similar events, involves more thorough inspections of equipment and mounting assemblies during installation as well as during periodic maintenance inspections to ensure proper specifications are met. It is also important to ensure that working procedures and signage identify potential hazards and danger zones clearly. This serves as a good reminder to ensure you are aware of all safe working policies and procedures associated with the tasks being performed and the potential hazards that may be in certain areas. Do not assume that equipment is up to specifications and be aware of your surroundings and ANY potential hazards that may result from equipment failure. High Potential Incident at Highland Valley Copper
At approximately 11:00 am on September 14, 2016, 2 Carpenters were placing wood concrete forms of the L-3 conveyor soft start station. One of the Carpenters drove a 16” metal stake into the ground to hold the form in place. The stake penetrated a buried 4160v electrical cable feeding a nearby transformer which tripped the protection system as designed. Thankfully, there were no injuries and minimal damage. The scene was secured and initial evidence gathering, investigation conducted. The incident was classed a Dangerous Occurrence, an ICAM investigation has been initiated and the provincial mines inspector has been notified. This is a good reminder of why you should always ensure that you “dial before you dig” and take extra time to ensure that you have a clear understanding of your surroundings and the potential for unseen hazards. Keep in mind that the places we work are a constantly changing landscape and “what was, may not, still be.” |
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October 2018
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