THE excavator that tipped over and killed its operator at a Karuah quarry in September is shown perched precariously on the edge of a steep drop in a new fatality report released on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The report by the state government’s mine safety inspection unit describes the general situation at the quarry on September 9 when Ryan Messenger, 25, of Raymond Terrace, became the second man to die at the site in nine years.
The Karuah quarry is operated by Hunter Quarries, a firm associated with businessman Hilton Grugeon.
Hunter Quarries failed in a court attempt to stop government investigators interviewing quarry staff.
Mr Grugeon said on Thursday the department had interviewed ‘‘a couple of staff’’ and that nothing more had been heard.
The report says Mr Messenger was using a ‘‘track-type hydraulic excavator ... on uneven ground with a cross gradient’’.
‘‘The excavator rolled onto its left-hand side, down [a] slope, resulting in fatal injuries to the operator,’’ the report said.
‘‘A large rock was positioned between the excavator’s track marks.
‘‘The excavator bucket was found to be holding a large rock weighing about 3tonnes.
‘‘Investigators are examining what factors caused the machine to exceed its tipping point.’’
They were also investigating ‘‘the purpose of the task being undertaken’’ at the time of the incident.
The report says excavators often operate on uneven ground near the edge of quarry pits and ‘‘the risk of roll over and tip over ... is high, unless precautions are taken’’.
‘‘Particular care must be taken when operating on slopes or near excavations and open holes,’’ the report says.
Work should not be ‘‘carried out close to the edge or in the zone of influence of an excavation or any previously disturbed ground’’.
The report shows the excavator lying on its side on the edge of a near-vertical drop of about 12metres to a ‘‘bench’’ or step, about half-way to the quarry floor.
The excavator had left a road at the top of the quarry and had travelled across a 20-metre stretch of ‘‘sloping unimproved ground’’ before coming to rest.
A government spokesperson said investigations were continuing.
