❓ A parliamentary question regarding the safety of using an excavator to lift a dozer ripper during maintenance at a Pilbara mine site. The Minister defends the practice as compliant with Australian Standards and properly supervised.
AnsweredQoN 198Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the photos and video of a Caterpillar D8T Dozer from WesTrac and Caterpillar 336DL Hydraulic Excavator hired from PHS Pty Ltd in Area C in the Pilbara on the South Flank site on or around 15/16 of April 2011. The photos are located at http://www.robinchapple.com/qdata (titled: South Flank 1, South Flank 2, South Flank 3, South Flank 4) and the accompanying video at http://youtu.be/fx7w9BAdkj4 , and ask: (a) does the Minister consider that using a chain on the 336DL Hydraulic Excavator bucket assembly to attach to the Caterpillar D8T Dozer ripper for lifting purposes, whilst workers were carrying out work on the ripper structure, a safe practice: (i) if yes to (a), why; and (ii) if no to (a), what will the Minister do to investigate this matter; (b) was this matter of unsafe practice brought to the attention of the department: (i) if yes to (b), when and by whom; (ii) if yes to (b), what action was taken; and (iii) if no to (b), why was this matter not brought to the attention of the department; and (c) was a site supervisor on site at the time: (i) if yes to (c), was the unsafe practice brought to the attention of that officer; and (ii) if yes to either (c) or (c)(i), why did the site supervisor allow this unsafe practice to continue?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 September 2013
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
42 days
(a) Yes
(i) The use of an excavator to lift accessories associated with the equipment is considered
normal practice under Australian Standard 1418.8 - 2008 Clause 5.1.
(ii) Not applicable
(b) No
(i) - (ii) Not applicable
(iii) There is no legislative requirement to report this activity under the
Mines Safety and
Inspection Act 1994.
(c) Yes
(i) The supervisor was aware of the use of the procedures depicted.
(ii) The supervisor was satisfied that the necessary job planning was undertaken and appropriate controls were put in place to manage hazards associated with the activity.
These included:
· Verification of equipment manufacturer specifications including safe working load details, the fitting of hydraulic check valves to support lifting activities and the ratings of lifting points/lugs used to support the load.
· Verification that the chains used to support the raised dozer ripper arm were appropriately rated for the lift.
· Provision of appropriate supervision.
· Preparation and completion of a job hazard assessment that detailed the sequence of tasks required to perform the lift and recovery of the dozer.
(i) The use of an excavator to lift accessories associated with the equipment is considered
normal practice under Australian Standard 1418.8 - 2008 Clause 5.1.
(ii) Not applicable
(b) No
(i) - (ii) Not applicable
(iii) There is no legislative requirement to report this activity under the
Mines Safety and
Inspection Act 1994.
(c) Yes
(i) The supervisor was aware of the use of the procedures depicted.
(ii) The supervisor was satisfied that the necessary job planning was undertaken and appropriate controls were put in place to manage hazards associated with the activity.
These included:
· Verification of equipment manufacturer specifications including safe working load details, the fitting of hydraulic check valves to support lifting activities and the ratings of lifting points/lugs used to support the load.
· Verification that the chains used to support the raised dozer ripper arm were appropriately rated for the lift.
· Provision of appropriate supervision.
· Preparation and completion of a job hazard assessment that detailed the sequence of tasks required to perform the lift and recovery of the dozer.
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