Prep LabCrushed Fingers Injury

Prep Lab Incident

In December of last year (2011) a supervisor in the prep lab was crushing ore samples with a rolls crusher. Oversized material became jammed in-between the roller heads, a common occurrence. The employee proceeded to turn the power off to the unit and attempted to remove the rock prior to locking out the unit.

The residual energy contained within the roller heads was sufficient enough pull in and crush the ring finger and middle finger of the employee.

Prep Lab Incident

Rolls Crusher before modifications were made to guarding

Prep Lab Incident

Rolls Crusher before Modifications were made to guarding

Prep Lab Incident

Basic Operation of a Rolls Crusher:

Large Ore Particles

The two rolls force the particles between their rotating surface into the ever smaller gap area, this fractures the rock from the compressive forces presented by the rotating rolls

Crushed material down to 10 mesh (about 2mm)

***WARNING*** The next slide shows the workers glove

caught between the rollers of the unit, this picture was taken right after the incident

Viewer discretion is advised(but I am sure many of you have seen much worse)

Prep Lab Incident

Picture taken after incident, this is the workers glove that was left in the rollers.

Prep Lab Incident • The employees injury is displayed in red.

• His bandages are still being changed on a daily basis, but the healing process is going very well.

• His only concern at the moment is his golf swing...

• Very positive attitude, realizing that this injury could have been much worse

Prep Lab Incident

• Steps taken at time of Incident:• Worker was given first aid and sent to

hospital• Scene was frozen, an investigation was

started and work area was shut down• Prep lab crew was assembled and

informed about the incident • New lock-out procedure implemented

immediately• Plans to review and update all Prep lab

SOP’s

Prep Lab Incident• Steps taken since Incident

• New hopper top over feed chute of rolls

Prep Lab Incident• Steps taken since Incident

• SOP for rolls crusher and other lab equipment have been reviewed and updated (including pictures and visual aids)

Prep Lab Incident• Steps taken since Incident

• Lock out procedure has been laid out step by step in SOP with picture representation

Rolls lock out

Prep Lab Incident• Direct causes:

• Failure to follow proper lock out procedure• Improper sequence (bypassing jaw crusher

which would create material of proper size for rolls crusher ) • Worker put hand in unsafe location• Inadequate guarding of rollers/chute

• Latent Causes • Experienced worker became complacent in

his position and put himself in a dangerous situation

Prep Lab Incident• Conclusion

• Supervisor has been put on light duty as he continues to recover• New hopper guard has been put in place to

keep workers from accessing moving rollers• Updated and more detailed SOP’s involve

locking out any machine in the prep lab when a jam or hang up occurs and,• Workers are being re-trained in safe work

practices with input from the JHSC, prep workers and management

Safety is Everyone's Responsibility... Especially Yours!