How far away is death?

The NSW (New South Wales) Resources Regulator has reported that a jumbo operator’s off-sider sustained lacerations to his leg and arm when he was struck by flyrock at an underground metals mine.

Jumbo operator struck by flyrock.

A jumbo operator’s off-sider sustained lacerations to his leg and arm when he was struck by flyrock at an underground metals mine.

The operator was mechanically scaling the face with a 45 millimeter bit, when the bit entered an unidentified blast hole. The blast hole contained explosive residue which initiated the explosion. The offsider was standing towards the rear of the jumbo at the time of the incident.

The Regulator stated: “A risk assessment should be undertaken to identify blast hole remnants prior to commencing scaling work. Mine operator should consider using a scaling bit that is larger in diameter than a blast hole bit to eliminate the risk of the bit entering an unidentified blast hole remnant.”

Source: AMSJ (Australasian Mine Safety Journal.