The Resources Regulator in NSW has received 50 reports of injuries relating to hands and fingers in mine sites over the past 2 years. Of these incidents, 12 have resulted in serious injuries.
These injuries may result in surgery, lengthy rehabilitation periods and potentially lifelong impairment for workers.
The Regulator has made a number of recommendations to avoid hand and finger injuries, including:
- Using guards or isolation to eliminate the opportunity for workers to enter crush areas, pinch points and entanglement hazards;
- ensure work area lighting is suitable for the task being carried out;
- consider visual aids such as fluorescent or bright-coloured gloves that can be more easily seen in dark environments;
- provide workers with information, training, instruction and supervision on working with equipment that has moving parts, sharp equipment, tools and pinch points. Workers new to the mining industry will need additional training and supervision;
- workers need to consider where they place their hands to avoid the potential for falling objects such as drill steels and material such as rocks and strata.
Download the Safety Bulletin and review all of the recommendations (PDF, 217.76 KB).
