2005 QUEENSLAND MINING INDUSTRY Health and Safety Innovation Awards
/ Queensland Mining Industry Health & Safety Conference Townsville Jupiter’s Hotel Casino14th – 17th August 2005
ENTRY FORM
Project name: Highwall Pump Access System
Project Profile: This innovation provides a safe access and working platform for all maintenance work to be conducted on highwall pumps
Company Name: Blackwater Mine, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA)
Contact Person: John Hosking
Position: Warehouse Supervisor
Address: Blackwater Mine, Private Mail Bag, Blackwater Q 4717
Phone: 07 4980 5850 Fax:07 4982 5826
Email:
Queensland Health and Safety Innovation
Awards 2005
Highwall Pump Access System
The problem
To replace the polypipe on the reel of a highwall pump safely, scaffold had to be constructed each time this was to be carried out. The erection of scaffold introduced working at height concerns that were identified within the Maintenance BSafe meetings. The workforce believed these could be engineered out.
The solution
A risk assessment was conducted with the change management process that detailed that no new hazards were introduced with the installation and use of the new platforms. A cross section of personnel developed conceptual drawings to address the issue. The drawings were for a fixed working platform to be mounted to the pumps. It was agreed the idea looked promising and a platform was engineered by Legra and fabricated for a trial.
It was a simple design that had a pre-fabricated platform designed and fitted to the highwall pump for ease of access.
The trial was successful with more platforms being fabricated and fitted to the remaining highwall pumps.
The BENEFITS
Safety -
The hierarchy of controls was used for this project. The need to erect scaffolding was eliminated and the level of risk associated with people carrying out maintenance tasks reduced by ensuring a suitable working platform is always in place.
Performance -
The time required is reduced by removing the need to construct / dismantle scaffolding for replacing the polypipe. The platform can also be used to conduct other basic maintenance work on the highwall pumps.
transferability
All highwall pumps in the industry could be fitted with a similar design to eliminate the need to erect scaffolding and create potential working at height issues. The simple concept can also be applied to other equipment to eliminate working at height concerns. BMA Blackwater is currently engineering out other height issues on our mobile equipment with the installations of working platforms.
innovation originality
Background research in the industry and suppliers found that having a platform fitted for maintenance purposes was a simple and practical solution that had not been previously implemented.
application of risk management principles
Through BMA’s process of risk assessment the hierarchy of control was considered throughout this project.
Elimination – The need to erect scaffold and work at height was eliminated.
Engineering - The final design is a simple pre-fabricated platform designed and fitted to the highwall pump for ease of access.
Administration – Safe Work Instruction developed for this new method of work and communicated to crews