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Gold mining
A snapshot of how people employed in the gold mining industry get injured at work, and tips to help prevent these types of injuries from occurring.
Injury Hotspot skeleton diagram, text information below.
Hazards
- Hazard 1Exposure to hazardous substances dust fumes gases and other airborne substances
- Eliminate or reduce health risks by designing work and the workplace to prevent contact with hazardous substances. For example, using:
- extraction
- dust suppression including water carts and sprays
- 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 the following.
- Appropriate placarding is installed.
- Material safety data sheets (MSDS) are made available.
- Hazardous substances are properly stored.
- All controls are maintained.
- Conduct atmospheric and personal air monitoring to measure employee exposure levels and conduct health surveillance.
- Provide appropriate personal protective equipment (for example respiratory protection). Ensure respiratory protection fits properly and is worn when required.
- Eliminate or reduce health risks by designing work and the workplace to prevent contact with hazardous substances. For example, using:
- Hazard 2Heavy lifting repetitive movements pushing / pulling objects and awkward postures
- Mechanise repetitive work and work involving high force. For example, drilling, hammering or pounding by using rig or vehicle mounted powered equipment.
- Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment to assist in moving heavy objects, or when undertaking repetitive work that involves high force. For example:
- automatic in-feed
- forklifts
- carryalls.
- Ensure mechanical aids and equipment are used and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
- Where manual handling is required:
- locate frequently used objects at waist height
- minimise loads by reducing the size and/or weight of objects
- use mechanical aids including trolleys, conveyors or lifting aids.
- Ensure plant controls are positioned for easy use/reach.
- Provide information, instruction, training and supervision in the selection and use of mechanical equipment and aids and safe handling methods. For example, ensure work is done:
- between shoulder and mid-thigh height
- with the elbows close to the body
- upright where possible.
- Ensure employees are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods. For example, by using job rotation, work variation and breaks.
- Hazard 3Noise
- 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 4Operating vehicles and mobile plant
- Construct haulage roads with appropriate material type and size.
- Maintain roads, including filling in potholes to reduce vibration/jarring through vehicles.
- Ensure that all vehicles and powered mobile plant are used and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications. For example:
- forklifts
- trucks
- diggers
- bulldozers.
- Ensure plant is set up in a stable manner on firm, level ground, within working radius.
- If guards are used on plant, ensure they will prevent access to the danger point or area of the plant (for example moving parts).
- Ensure that seatbelts are installed and operable. Where practicable, seatbelts should be interlocked to the vehicle.
- Ensure all operating levers, controls and instruments are clearly labelled with their nature and function. Ensure they are in a convenient position to be operated.
- Ensure access to vehicles and mobile plant is the appropriate height to reduce strain when getting in and out.
- Ensure that any fall from height risks when accessing plant are controlled by using handrails or other appropriate fall prevention systems where practicable.
- Ensure grab rails, footholds and steps are provided and maintained.
- Ensure that traffic management plans are in place and followed by all employees, contractors and visitors.
- Train employees and contractors in the safe operation of vehicles and mobile plant, including the use of fire suppression systems.
- Develop and implement strategies to control fatigue.
- Develop and implement strategies to identify and prevent the consumption of alcohol or drugs.
- Hazard 5Psychosocial
- 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).
- Psychosocial hazards are factors in the design or management of work that increase the risk of psychological or physical harm. Examples include:
- Hazard 6Slips trips and falls
- Ensure floor surfaces in work areas are even, well-drained and kept clear of obstructions/debris.
- Provide adequate lighting for work areas and walkways.
- Regularly undertake ground inspection, maintenance and housekeeping.
- Ensure there are no uncovered openings.
- Keep emergency exists clear.
- Ensure all stairs and steps have handrails and effective slip resistance.
- Equip mobile plant with non-slip steps to prevent slips and falls.
- Ensure employees use three points of contact when entering and exiting vehicles.
- Hazard 7Using machinery and hand-held equipment
- Use fixed, rig or vehicle-mounted powered equipment instead of handheld tools where possible.
- Provide appropriate powered tools (for example mechanical equipment for breaking and shifting drill rods).
- Ensure powered tools are used and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
- Ensure cranes and lifting equipment is suitable for the task.
- Ensure cranes and lifting equipment are used and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
- Ensure plant support structures are structurally sound and well maintained. For example:
- columns
- beams
- grid mesh flooring
- support bases.
- Ensure machinery has appropriate safety features. For example:
- interlocked guards are in place
- emergency stops are within reach of employees
- machinery cannot start during repair, unblocking, maintenance or cleaning
- drilling mechanisms have appropriate guarding.
- Powered equipment should be selected to provide minimal vibration, and be supported during use.
- Install and maintain warning systems (for example start-up of conveyors).
- Provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). For example:
- hard hats
- gloves that absorb impact energy
- welding masks
- hearing protection
- respiratory protection
- safety boots
- suitable eye protection.
- Ensure PPE is worn properly.
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.