Learning from investigations: Worker crushed by opal mine material hoist bucket

On 4 November 2016, a worker was fatally injured when he and another worker were mining for opal about 13 metres underground at a mineral claim in the Mulga Rush Opal Fields, about 40 kilometres southwest of Lightning Ridge. They were using a hydraulic hoist and bucket to transport earth and rock, known as mullock, from the working face to the surface. Shortly before 3pm, the bucket failed to return from the surface. The worker informed the other worker that the bucket was not returning from the surface. The other worker walked to the sump and shaft, where he observed the bucket suspended at the top of the hoist’s ladder, and then walked toward the exit shaft. The worker lowered himself into the sump at which time the bucket free fell down the shaft. In the course of removing himself from the sump the worker was struck by the bucket and sustained fatal injuries.
For the full investigation report visit the Resources Regulator website: www.resourcesr...