Call to opal miners: prevent unnecessary injuries by fitting guards to your machinery
July, 2006
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is calling on opal miners to fit appropriate guards to moving parts on all machinery operating on their mining titles by 25 July 2006.
DPI Senior Mine Safety Officer, David Howell, said although many miners have now guarded their equipment, there are still some who are putting themselves and those at their workplaces at risk of severe injury and amputation.
"Recently a young opal miner received severe leg injuries when his shorts became entangled in the drive line of an agitator while the machine was being refuelled. And he was lucky compared to two miners who had their right legs amputated by moving machine parts," said Mr Howell.
"These accidents could have easily been prevented by fixing appropriate guards over the moving parts."
DPI has been advising opal miners for some years that all moving parts on machinery operating on a mining title must be protected by an appropriate guard.
"Mining and occupational health and safety legislation requires people who have a mining title in their name to identify hazards and assess the risks associated with their opal mining operation," said Mr Howell.
"DPI is therefore giving all mining purpose lease holders and claim holders until 25 July 2006 to have moving parts on all the machinery operating on their mining title fitted with appropriate guards."
After 25 July 2006, DPI Mine Safety Officers will be conducting audits of Mining Purpose Leases to ensure all moving parts on conveyors and agitators and other machinery is guarded.
Should equipment be found which is not adequately guarded, the lease holder may be issued with a notice to stop all operations on the lease until DPI has been advised that the notice has been complied with.
Audits will also be conducted on mineral claims and Opal Prospecting Blocks to ensure that drill rigs, hoists, generators, air compressors, blowers and all other equipment being used on the mining title have the moving parts protected by guarding.
Source: NSW Dept. of Primary Industries