An employee of a subcontractor was injured while cutting steel with an angle grinder. The steel flexed under tension and clamped down on the cutting disc, deflecting the grinder into the employee's calf. The hazard of the grinder becoming jammed during cutting was not identified in the pre-task risk assessment. As a reminder, workers should check for hazards that may arise during a full task, not just those present at the start. The incident will be discussed with teams to improve hazard identification processes.
1. SHEQ Alert
Page 1 of 1
SHEQ Alert 4-2018
Incident Number: INX 93630
Date of Incident: 11th April 2018
Location: Bellambi
Classification: Lost Time Injury Potential Damage: Injury
Incident Description
Incident:
Sub-contractor:
Employee was working within a spirotainer cutting out the hangar.
While making a vertical cut into a box section of 3mm T sheet steel, the section has flexed under
tension and clamped down on the cutting disc deflecting the angle grinder downwards at speed
and impacted employee’s right calf.
Preliminary Findings/ Underlying Causes
• Hazard/s not identified in the toolbox/pre-start risk assessment.
• Sub-contractor SWMES did not identify the potential harm from the use of the grinder cutting metal
and becoming jammed.
Reminder to all Workers
Check for hazards for the full task, not just the hazards present at the commencement of a task.
This will include reviewing what hazards are induced into the tasks as you undertake the work.
Actions
Discuss with all teams the process of hazard identification.
Date Prepared 16th April 2018
Prepared By: Greg Lowe Position: SHEQ Manager
Approved By: Greg Lowe Position: SHEQ Manager
