Earth resources

A snapshot of how people employed in the earth resources sector get injured at work, and tips to help prevent these types of injuries from occurring.

Injury hotspots pages contain helpful information for

training and induction materials
occupational health and safety content
preventing injuries in the workplace.

Earth resources

Hazards

Hazard 1
Exposure to dust fumes and silica
Eliminate or minimise health risk by designing work and the workplace to prevent contact with the hazardous substance (for example, extraction and ventilation in underground environments).

Provide dust capturing equipment in dust-producing processes.

After blasting, stop people from entering the mine until it’s safe to do so.

Ensure all controls are maintained.

You may have to do air monitoring to determine employee and contractor exposure levels and undertake health surveillance. If you are not sure if there is a problem, get some assistance.
Hazard 2
Heavy lifting and pushing / pulling objects
Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment (for example forklifts and carryalls).

Ensure mechanical aids and equipment are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.

Where manual handling is required, locate frequently used objects at waist height and minimise lifting by reducing the size and/or weight of objects.
Hazard 3
Noise
Ensure employees and contractors are not exposed to noise that exceeds the exposure standard (regulations in Victoria limit exposure to 85 decibels (dB) averaged over an 8-hour period with a maximum (peak) noise level of 140 dB). An example of this level of noise is where employees and contractors have to raise their voices to communicate over a distance of one metre.

Arrange for a noise assessment if employees and contractors are exposed to noise that exceeds the exposure standard or where there is uncertainty about whether their exposure may have exceeded the noise exposure standard.

First try to eliminate and then reduce the source of noise wherever possible. For example:

enclose or isolate noisy machinery

reduce vibration

use barriers to absorb and screens to block the direct path of sound

use silencers on air exhausts

exhaust pneumatics out of the area

buy the quietest tools/machinery available.

Place warning signs in areas where noise is likely to exceed the exposure standard and hearing protection is required to be worn.

Warn other employees and contractors nearby that you will be beginning noisy work and advise them to move away or wear hearing protection.

Provide employees and contractors with the appropriate type of hearing protection by considering the nature of the noise, noise level, duration of noise and systems of work at the workplace, and ensure it is worn at all times.

Separate noisy and quiet processes.

Use job rotation to limit employee and contractor exposure.

Provide employees and contractors with audiometric testing.
Hazard 4
Operating vehicles and plant
Construct haulage roads with appropriate material type and size, and maintain roads.

Regularly service and maintain vehicles to minimise vibration.

Ensure vehicles/mobile plant are appropriate height for first step up.

Ensure drivers are not fatigued or affected by drugs or alcohol.
Hazard 5
Psychosocial
Psychosocial hazards are factors in the design or management of work that increase the risk of psychological or physical harm. Examples include:

work-related violence

work-related fatigue

workplace bullying

work-related gendered violence including sexual harassment

violent or traumatic events

remote and isolated work

high and low job demands

low job control

poor support.

Ensure systems are in place to identify, assess and control risks to psychological health in consultation with employees, contractors and any HSRs. Systems should include processes for regularly reviewing and revising risk control measures to ensure effectiveness.

Consider the design and management of work. For example:

Are employee and contractor tasks appropriate for skill level and experience?

Do employees and contractors have adequate training, resources and support?

Is workload allocated to ensure it is reasonable and appropriate to skillset?

Do employees and contractors have clear roles and reporting lines?

Ensure systems are in place for employees and contractors to report psychosocial hazards and risks. Employees and contractors should be confident their concerns will be addressed in a fair and timely manner.

Provide employees and contractors with adequate support. For example, supervisory support, peer support and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
Hazard 6
Repetitive tasks
Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment (for example, automatic in-feed, adjustable and ergonomically designed tools).

Ensure mechanical aids and equipment are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.

Mechanise repetitive work such as drilling, hammering or pounding by using powered equipment.

Ensure plant handles or controls are positioned for easy use.

Ensure employees and contractors are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods (for example by using job rotation, work variation).

Ensure employees and contractors are not exposed to work that requires a significant amount of high force for long periods.

Provide employees and contractors with regular breaks.
Hazard 7
Slips trips and falls
Provide adequate lighting for work areas and walkways.

Regularly carry out ground inspection and maintenance, and housekeeping.

Equip mobile plant with non-slip steps to prevent slips and falls.

Ensure all stairs and steps have handrails.
Hazard 8
Using mechanical tools and equipment
Provide appropriate mechanical tools and equipment.

Ensure mechanical tools and equipment used and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.

Provide powered equipment for breaking and shifting drill rods.

Ensure drill rods have appropriate guarding.

Information about common injuries

By highlighting the areas on the body where workers in their industry are likely to get injured, users are encouraged to click within the interactive graphic to reveal the most common causes of those injuries.

Injury hotspots then list the leading hazards in each industry or occupation, along with tips to help address those hazards.

Putting injury hotspots into action

Injury hotspots is a quick and easy tool that people can use for:

improving general safety awareness
training and induction materials
promoting occupational health and safety programs
preventing injuries in the workplace.

Injury hotspots disclaimer

This information does not give rise to any liability of, or claim against, WorkSafe Victoria. It does not give rise to any right, expectation, duty or obligation that a person may not otherwise have. It does not give rise to any defence that would not otherwise be available to a person.

This information does not affect the operation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 or the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017.

Please note these injuries and hazards are based on historical claims data. There may also be new common injuries and hazards emerging at your workplace which will need to be addressed.

Earth resources

Injury hotspots pages contain helpful information for

Earth resources

Hazards

Exposure to dust fumes and silica

Heavy lifting and pushing / pulling objects

Noise

Operating vehicles and plant

Psychosocial

Repetitive tasks

Slips trips and falls

Using mechanical tools and equipment

Information about common injuries

Putting injury hotspots into action

Injury hotspots disclaimer

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