Inquest into the Death of Wayne ROSS

45y · Male·multiple injuries sustained from a 25-metre fall down an unprotected stope when a loaded haul dump vehicle fell over the edge

A 45-year-old experienced loader operator died when his vehicle fell 25 metres down an unprotected underground stope while attempting to place a rock bund at its edge. The incident occurred due to multiple contributing factors: ambiguous instructions regarding preparation of the stope for surveying; the deceased's misinterpretation of these instructions; inadequate risk assessment procedures (the deceased assessed a high-risk task as 'low' risk); removal of bollard warnings without clear authorisation; poor visibility exacerbated by dust and a slight bend in the drive; and a maintenance defect where two bolts were missing from the loader seat, increasing fatal injuries. Key lessons include the critical need for formal team-based risk assessments for work near open holes, physical hard barriers preventing equipment access to voids, proper maintenance and inspection protocols, clarification of supervisor instructions, and emphasis on not relying solely on lower-level operator risk assessments for hazardous tasks.