A worker narrowly avoided serious injury after a drill rig breached a windrow and became exposed to an approximately 10-metre drop-off while repositioning to commence blast-hole drilling during nightshift.
The operator was reversing the drill rig while monitoring the drill plan on an in-cab GPS tablet. During the manoeuvre, the machine breached the bench-edge windrow and came to rest at an estimated 20-degree angle, with one track remaining on the bench and the other embedded in the batter slope below. The operator exited safely, and two dozers secured the drill rig before recovery.
The incident shows how mobile plant can rapidly enter rollover and fall exposures when operators divide attention between vehicle movement and operational information. Workers operating near bench edges rely on situational awareness, effective edge protection, adequate visibility and operator aids to prevent equipment encroaching into high-consequence areas.
Takeaways
- Maintain situational awareness: Continuously monitor direction of travel and surrounding hazards when manoeuvring mobile equipment near bench edges and changes in ground level.
- Manage in-cab distractions: Stop equipment in a safe location before reviewing drill plans, GPS displays or other operational information.
- Use reversing aids effectively: Apply cameras, mirrors, proximity detection systems and other operator assists to maintain awareness of nearby hazards.
- Maintain effective edge protection: Construct and maintain windrows appropriate to the size and type of mobile equipment operating in the area.
- Provide adequate visibility: Verify lighting arrangements enable operators to identify bench edges, windrows and changes in ground level during night operations.
