A costly lesson in pressure.

A look at what pressure can do.

hazard alertDrill Safe04 June 2024hazard alertComment

Drill rig instability and movement from set-up alignment

Over the past few years there have been several accidents and incidents that are related to drill rig instability and / or movement while drilling.

GeneralColin Rice31 May 2024hazard alertComment

Drill rig fire due to electrical fault

A reverse circulation drill rig was working when a fire occurred on the rig mounted compressor.

Colin Rice19 July 2022Comment

Drilling Offsider Exposed to Potential Fall From Height

A drilling contractor was pulling drill rods on a top drive drill using a clamshell arrangement. During this process, the clamshell hook would not lower under its own weight and the driller identified that the utility winch rope had spooled incorrectly and was stuck onto the winch drum mounted on top of the mast.

ExplorationColin Rice30 April 2022 Comment

Pressure Relief Valve Blown Off Compressor

A drilling contractor was flushing a rotary percussion drilled borehole when the pressure relief valve on the rig mounted compressor was blown off and separated from the compressor. This caused a mist of compressor oil to spray onto hot parts of the engine which caused a fire.

GeneralColin Rice23 April 2022Comment

Timing Cover On Booster Compressor Blown Off

The timing cover of auxiliary booster exploded and shattered during normal reverse circulation drilling operations.

Hose SafetyColin Rice22 April 2022Comment

Drill Rig Stability and Alignment

We have been made aware of several accidents relating to drill rigs toppling over or moving whilst set-up and drilling. Three of these instances are summarised below…

Sian Gautier12 January 2021

Pull Back Chain Failures

In recent weeks we have been made aware of several instances in which pull back chains or ropes failed whilst tripping a drill string.

General, Vol 19.1Drill Safe06 October 2020Accident Alert, No repeatsComment

Eye Injury From Flying Rock Fragment

A reverse circulation (RC) driller suffered an eye injury when a flying rock chip impacted his eye.

General, Vol 19.1Drill Safe10 February 2020Accident Alert, No repeatsComment

“A” Frame Of Trailer Mounted Drill Rig Snaps

Whilst towing a trailer-mounted core drilling rig up a ramp of an open cast mine, the “A” frame of the trailer snapped, resulting in the drill rig rolling backwards, down the ramp where it came to rest against a retaining wall.

General, Vol 19.1Drill Safe06 February 2020Accident Alert, No repeatsComment

Latest Industry Incidents — Unofficial

Have a look at some of the industry incidents we have been made aware of in recent weeks.

GeneralDrill Safe07 March 2019Accident Alert, No repeatsComment

Accident Alert: Quill Rod Failure

We all need to watch and learn from this dramatic accident.

General, Vol 13.2Drill Safe05 December 2018Accident Alert, No repeats, quill rod failure, quillrod Comments

Pipe Wrench Fatality

Read about this tragic fatality involving a pipe wrench.

GeneralDrill Safe28 June 2018Accident Alert, fatality, Pipe Wrench, No repeats, wrench Comments

Release of Stored Energy: Fatality and Permanent Disabilities

Two identical accidents, one resulting in a fatality and another resulting in permanent disabilities to two people. The second accident should have been prevented!

Amputation of Part of Left Foot

The toes of the left foot of the drill rig assistant were amputated by the rotation head of a diamond core drilling machine as it travelled down the feed frame.

GeneralDrill Safe08 January 2018Accident Alert, fatality, quill rod failureComment

Drill Rod Explodes

On 27th August 2011, a stable 3 metre rod exploded while the driller was pumping water into the drill hole before commencement of drilling. The exploded rod scattered around the drill site (15m away from the rig).

GeneralDrill Safe19 December 2017Accident Alert, drill rod

Driller's off-sider injured while operating an exploration drill rig

The rod clamps on an exploration drill rig closed down onto the foot of a driller’s off-sider. Fortunately the off-sider did not sustain serious injuries as he was wearing steel capped boots.

GeneralDrill Safe12 December 2017Accident Alert, foot clamp