Topic 4 – Incident And Accident Reporting:

INCIDENT AND ACCIDENT REPORTING

Evander Gold Mines has recognized the importance of the above two factors and has decided to put up a procedure in case of a serious road traffic accident involving a company vehicle outside our premises or any other serious incident involving other mobile equipment.

The procedure will outline the sequence of reporting an emergency at any time it occurs.  The sequence will be as follows:

The Caller will ring Control Room on the following numbers:

Call center/Control Room – 911

Safety will liaise with all the parties in the hierarchy which are Medical, Human Resources, Fire Brigade and Line Manager.

The Line Manager will inform the General Manager.

Mine Accident:

• The injured mine employee (Includes contractors as per Mine Health and Safety Act).
• Accident occurred within the normal scope of his/her duties/occupation.
• The accident occurred on property owned or controlled by the Mine (At site of work including change rooms, cages/chairlifts, etc.).

Fatality:

• A work related injury resulting in the death of an employee or contractor.

Lost Time Injury (LTI):

• Is a work-related injury resulting in the injured being unable to attend/return to work to perform the full or similar duties of his/her regular work, as per advice of a suitably qualified medical professional, on the next calendar day after the injury.

Medical Treatment Case (MTC):

• A medical treatment case is recorded when the injured person was admitted to the hospital or clinic as a result of a work related injury and the injured person is able to return to work the next calendar day.

Causes of Incidents:

• Personal Factors e.g. Fatigue
• Lack of knowledge and/or skill
• Physical and mental defect
• Improper Attitude or Motivation
• Job Factors
• Unsafe Conditions and Physical Environment
• Inadequate Work Standards

Reasons why incidents must be reported:

• Legal Requirement
• To prevent reoccurrence
• To establish safety trends
• Identify preventative measures

Why employees do not report incidents?

• Fear of discipline
• Concern about safety records
• Concern about reputation
• Fear of medical personnel
• Desire to avoid work interruption
• Avoidance of red tape
• Poor Understanding

Procedures

• Report all injuries (even minor ones), immediately to your Supervisor or Health and Safety Representative.
• The Supervisor and Health and Safety Representative must report the incident.

Any unsafe condition may be defined as any physical condition that, if left uncorrected may lead to an accident.

• All persons need to be aware of moving machinery
• No person is allowed to work on any moving machinery
• No person may walk on moving machinery
• Never move in between machines and structures
• Always listen to pre-start warning sirens and devices
• Remove all loose pieces of clothing and accessories before you enter the site and long hair properly fasten, as this might get caught in moving parts of machines
• In case of a power failure, please stand in a safe place
• Machines are safeguarded to ensure your protection, never remove any guards from equipment without permission
• Adequate illumination should be provided at all work areas to ensure the safe operation and maintenance of machinery and equipment.
• A risk assessment must be done before work is carried out in areas where there are low levels of illumination.
• Handle fluorescent tubes with care as these contain traces of fluorescent powder and mercury which can be harmful when inhaled or if absorbed into the body, for example, by a skin cut.
• Ensure that these are disposed off as per waste management procedure.

Nip and pinch points

• Is a point were two or more parts come together or meet which can pinch or crush body parts e.g. fingers, hands, arms etc.
• Parts can be 2 rolling (moving) parts, a rolling (moving) part and a stationary part or when 2 objects (parts) connect to each other.
• All nip points on locos and rock drills to be painted RED.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

• Head Protection
• Respiratory Protection
• Eye and Face Protection
• Safety Shoes and Protective Footwear
• Protective Clothing/Overall
• Hearing Protection Equipment
• Safety Harness
• Hand Protection
• Reflective Vest

Do:

• Wear PPE correctly
• Replace PPE when damaged
• Inspect PPE regularly
• If PPE are not worn correctly, it can lead to injury
• Keep PPE clean and hygienic
• Ensure correct fit

Symbolic signs

Signs are designated to transmit a message in three ways:

• Shape (Triangular, Round & Square)
• Colour (Green, Red, Yellow & Blue)
• Picture (Translating the Message)

It is important to identify signs and notices:

• Internationally understood
• Make us aware of hazardous situations
• Help prevent accidents
• Help to react quickly and avoid accidents

• Warning (Yellow)

• Prohibitory (Red)

• Mandatory (Blue)

• Informatory (Green & White)

• Fire Fighting

Change Management

How do you and your team manage change?

No work to commence prior to assessment of hazards and risks caused by the change in work organisation, work environment, tasks and or skills, new or designed changes to equipment or material/absence of key labour etc.

• Structure and communicate a plan of action.
• Do not rush into an action plan.
• Create understanding of risks and hazards.
• Ensure all risks and hazards are properly addressed.
• Do not attempt to execute tasks with high residual risks.
• Ensure all employees involved in the “change” understand the entire impact of such “change”
• If in doubt call for help.