Dozer Safety On Stockpiles

Purpose
To increase the level of understanding around
the risks associated with operating dozers on
stockpiles with discharge feeders, and to
share learning's and controls available to help
minimise these risks.

Outcome
Increased awareness around the operating
risks
Share learning's from two recent incidents
Share some of the available controls to
minimise these risks

Stockpile and Feeder Design

- Stockpile Cross Section

Live Zone

Dead Zone

Conveyor
Discharge Feeders

Stockpile and Feeder Design

- Stockpile Cross Section
Live Area of Feeder Cones

Live Zone

Dead Zone

Conveyor
Discharge Feeders

Principal Operating Risks

and Hazards
Falling into
feeder

Principal Operating Risks and

Hazards (cont.)
Domed out or rat holed feeder

Principal Operating Risks

and Hazards (cont.)
Slumping

Principal Operating Risks and

Hazards (cont.)
Engulfment

Safety Statistics

Dozer Incident 19th March 2006

15:45 :
Operator travels between feeder 7 and 8, Stops
dozer due to limited visibility. After 3 to 5 minutes of being
stopped, dozer falls into feeder cone.
15:50 :
Emergency signal received, Dispatch unable to
verify with TRD 326, Supervisor asked to investigate

Dozer Incident 19th March 2006

(cont.)

16:00 :
Supervisor unable to locate Dozer, decision is
made to stop the systems ( trippers and feeders).
16:10 :
Mine rescue group informed.
16:20 : Excavation commences on Feeder 1
18:00 : Upper Portion of Ripper exposed in Feeder 8

Dozer Incident 19th March 2006

(cont.)

20:42 :
The rear window of the bulldozer is cleaned by rescue
teams, who discover by way of signals that the operator is alive.
20:45 :
Operator leaves the cabin of bulldozer 326 walking
unaided.

Dozer Incident 19th March 2006

(cont.)

Cabin of dozer where operator was

trapped, it is believed that the air
conditioning fan continued to circulate air
from engine bay through cabin
throughout event
Operator remained calm throughout
event
No additional oxygen supplies used,

Recovered dozer

Learnings From These Events

Comunication/Emergency
system needs to work in all conditions

Operators need to be able

understand the risk in order
control it
Challenge
our
operations
rigorously apply the hierarchy
controls

to
to
to
of

Hierarchy of Controls

Eliminate Dozerless stockpiles

Separate Remote Control Dozers
Re-design Stacker/Reclaimer systems, Load out bins
Substitution Low profile blades to improve visibility,
Establish stockpile trigger points. Eg. >400Kt Isolate
feeders/trippers before pushing in

Administration training to increase awareness, GPS to

locate feeders, Feeder indicating lights

PPE Oxygen in cabins, self rescuers, Strengthened glass,

ROPS,