Driller’s assistant lucky not to have been killed.
| Date: | Friday, 26 July 2024 |
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Drilling and exploration company Boart Longyear was today fined $385,000 and ordered to pay $5,105.20 in costs after a driller’s assistant received serious crush injuries while working at Oz Mineral’s West Musgrave project.
The company pleaded guilty in the Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court to failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
In February 2021, the driller’s assistant was part of a crew at a remote exploration camp who were carrying out maintenance to a reverse circulation drill rig.
During the task, the driller's assistant was standing between the rod handler arm and the breakout assembly when the rod handler arm unexpectedly swung down pinning his head against the rig.
The worker suffered significant injuries including facial lacerations and a broken jaw.
Two co-workers lifted the heavy rod handler off the injured man, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service flew him to Royal Perth Hospital.
WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said the worker was lucky not to have been killed.
“Companies must conduct risk assessments to identify the presence of line-of-fire hazards prior to starting a job,” Ms North said.
"They must also adequately instruct, train and assess all workers who are disassembling and assembling equipment to ensure their competence.
“In this instance, Boart Longyear and the injured worker had not completed a Job Safety Analysis to assess the inherent risk levels and implement corrective measures.”
Following the incident, Boart Longyear developed a standard work procedure that identified the required hazards, controls, and work steps to complete the task.
Oz Minerals engaged Boart Longyear to carry out drilling services at its West Musgrave project, an open pit containing copper and nickel sulphide located around 125 kilometres east of Warburton.
A rod handler is a hydraulic mechanism fitted to a drill rig that can manoeuvre drill rods into position for coupling and decoupling.
The code of practice ‘Managing risks of plant in the workplace’ outlines the hazards associated with machinery.
The code is available on WorkSafe’s website: www.commerce.wa.gov.au/publications/managing-risks-plant-workplace-code-practice
