Worker injured after conveyance strike in NSW shaft prompts safety probe into winder controls, risk procedures and site communication practices

A worker was injured earlier this month at a shaft-sinking project near Menangle, New South Wales, after being struck by a personnel conveyance descending the kibble well in an underground winder shaft.

The incident occurred around 9:30 pm on 8 May 2025 at the Appin Mine Ventilation and Access Project, a site managed by Redpath Australia on behalf of Endeavour Coal. The shafts being developed will increase ventilation capacity at Appin Mine.

According to a newly released investigation report from the NSW Resources Regulator, the worker was positioned on stage level 4 when the personnel conveyance descended and made contact. The worker had been attempting to give verbal instructions to a mucker operator at a lower level. In doing so, he extended his head and upper body through a hatch in the stage’s modified guarding system. This hatch, crucially, was not interlocked with the winder control system.

The worker sustained minor injuries to his neck and head as a result of the incident.

An investigation is now underway to determine the root causes and identify any failures in control systems, procedures, or plant design. Areas of focus include:

• Management plans and operational procedures
• Adequacy of worker training and supervision
• Risk and change management practices
• Modifications to registered plant, including winding systems
• Visibility and communication tools used in shaft operations
• Legal obligations of duty holders under the WHS framework

The Regulator noted that this incident highlights the critical importance of interlocked safety systems, especially in high-risk environments like shaft sinking operations. A photo included in the report shows the conveyance parked near the hatch at stage level 4, providing a visual indication of the proximity and potential hazard involved.

The investigation remains ongoing. The Regulator has encouraged all duty holders across the sector to review their shaft winder safety systems and refer to the applicable technical reference guides and design orders related to powered winding systems.

Further updates will be issued as new information becomes available.