An investigation into a fatal rail maintenance incident near Evandale in July 2022 has found that the modified hi-rail excavator involved was operating beyond its working load limit.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation revealed that the excavator became unstable and toppled over while lifting an infrastructure trailer on July 20, killing the operator and injuring a spotter working nearby.
ATSB Director Transport Safety Kerri Hughes said the investigation found that the total load being lifted, combined with the excavator’s configuration, exceeded the working load limit in both civil and hi-rail modes.
“Based on signage within the excavator, it was very likely that the excavator was regularly exceeding the working load limit for both road and hi-rail modes for the works,” she said.
The investigation also discovered that a suspension oscillation lock system, designed to provide stability and prevent unintended movement during lifts, was disengaged at the time of the incident.
Hughes said the site supervisor was trained and qualified to operate the excavator but may have had limited experience with that particular model.
In response to the incident, TasRail has implemented several safety measures, including an immediate ban on using road-rail vehicle excavators in hi-rail mode.
The company has also held an industry forum to develop a safe approach for resuming excavator operations, resulting in a process flow chart for using earth-moving equipment as a lifting device and a compliance checklist.
“This accident reiterates the critical need for equipment to be operated by qualified and experienced operators and that working load limits are actively validated before commencing a task,” Hughes said.
“Further, selecting appropriate equipment, fit for purpose, reduces the risk of administrative risk controls becoming a last line of defence.”
