A quarry crusher operator was killed when the primary plant stacker conveyor belt that he was standing on suddenly ran backwards due to a component failure in the head drum.
Quarry Crusher Circumstances:
The operator stopped the 30-metre long inclined stacker conveyor and locked it out – apparently because of slippage in the head drum. The plant maintenance fitter was unavailable and the operator attempted to tighten the screws on the two cone clamp devices that fasten the head drum to the drive shaft. With two helpers he then proceeded to remove the build-up of rock from around the chute where a conveyor from the primary crusher feeds onto the stacker conveyor.
The operator stood on the belt about two meters in front of the loading chute and used a high-pressure hose to move rock away down through the chute towards the tail drum. With this material out of the way the belt suddenly moved backwards under the load of several tones of rock that it contained. He fell over and was forced into the narrow gap between the conveyor belt and the chute where he died of his injuries.
Quarry Crusher Investigation:
The cone clamp devices that fasten the head drum to the drive shaft were found to have completely failed. This is being investigated further, but it is probable that the belt jammed causing initial slippage in the clamps and this was followed by a more gradual failure of the components.
Quarry Crusher Recommendations:
Specific rules and procedures should be developed for conveyor maintenance work and, when necessary, belts should be securely clamped to prevent movement – as well as locking out the drive motor.
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Quarry Crusher Fatality,Quarry crusher operator,quarry crushing plant
Quarry Crusher Incident:
A quarry crusher operator was killed when the primary plant stacker conveyor belt that he was standing on suddenly ran backwards due to a component failure in the head drum.
Quarry Crusher Circumstances:
The operator stopped the 30-metre long inclined stacker conveyor and locked it out – apparently because of slippage in the head drum. The plant maintenance fitter was unavailable and the operator attempted to tighten the screws on the two cone clamp devices that fasten the head drum to the drive shaft. With two helpers he then proceeded to remove the build-up of rock from around the chute where a conveyor from the primary crusher feeds onto the stacker conveyor.
The operator stood on the belt about two meters in front of the loading chute and used a high-pressure hose to move rock away down through the chute towards the tail drum. With this material out of the way the belt suddenly moved backwards under the load of several tones of rock that it contained. He fell over and was forced into the narrow gap between the conveyor belt and the chute where he died of his injuries.
Quarry Crusher Investigation:
The cone clamp devices that fasten the head drum to the drive shaft were found to have completely failed. This is being investigated further, but it is probable that the belt jammed causing initial slippage in the clamps and this was followed by a more gradual failure of the components.
Quarry Crusher Recommendations:
Specific rules and procedures should be developed for conveyor maintenance work and, when necessary, belts should be securely clamped to prevent movement – as well as locking out the drive motor.