15.09.2015
Telehandler with platform flips
A man was injured at the Kalgoorlie, Super Pit gold mine in Western Australia on Friday, in an incident while working from a telehandler platform.
The man has been working from the work platform attached to a Caterpillar straight frame telehandler, when it is reported to have moved unexpectedly. The machine apparently then overturned trapping the mans leg. He was freed by colleagues and taken to the local hospital where his condition was reported as stable and he is being treated for foot and leg injuries which are not thought to be serious. The telehandler operator was unharmed.
Operations at Australia’s largest open cast gold mine were suspended for a while and the Department of Mines and Petroleum is investigating the incident. It released the following statement: “An SRG contractor working in an elevated work platform basket had his foot trapped when the machine moved unexpectedly,”
This will be an interesting Incident Investigation. The Dept of Mines and Petroleum in Western Australia have a document regarding the use of tele-handlers that was published in 2014. The Telehandler standard was published in Oct 2007.
The Telehandler with work platform must comply with AS1418-10
It will be interesting to read the published incident report.
From the document,
WA Dept Mines and Petroluem : Safety Bulletin 114 from 2014. Reference Doc: SB-336-693
As a minimum, the following criteria should be included in the compliance audit to ensure compliance with regulatory provisions.
Telescopic handler machines (THMs)
•All THMs manufactured after October 2007 must comply with AS 1418.19. Such machines must include a compliance plate and be provided with sufficient documentation to demonstrate compliance.
•THMs that can slew more than 5 degrees must comply with AS 1418.5 Cranes, hoists and winches - Mobile cranes (EN 13000:2010, MOD) as well as AS1418.19.
•Any attachments used with THMs, including jibs and work platforms, must comply with the requirements of AS 1418.19 and be approved for use by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for the particular model of THM.
•THMs used to support work platform attachments must comply with AS 1418.10.
•When a THM is to support a work platform attachment, if the boom length is, or can be, greater than 11 metres then a WP class high risk work licence is required to operate. Furthermore, the regulations require the machine to be managed as registered classified plant. The requirements of AS 2550.10 Cranes, hoists and winches - Safe use - Mobile elevating work platforms should also apply.
•When a THM is used to support a jib for lifting suspended loads, if the rated capacity is greater than 3 tonnes then a CN class high risk work licence is required. Furthermore, if the rated capacity is greater than 10 tonnes, the regulations require the machine to be managed as registered classified plant. The requirements of AS2550.5 Cranes, hoists and winches - Safe use - Mobile cranes should also apply.