Burton Coal Project

Towing and Recovery of Plant

TOWING AND
RECOVERY OF PLANT
AUTHORISATION .......................................................... 1
PROCEDURE AND INFORMATION .................................. 2
1.0 Intent .......................................................................2
2.0 Definitions .................................................................2
3.0 Towing and Recovery ..................................................3
3.1 Personal Nominated to Tow ........................................... 3
4.0 Towing Plant and Equipment ........................................3
4.1 Towing of Trailers ........................................................ 3
4.2 Hook up, Transporting and Placing Equipment ................. 5
4.3 Towing Irregular Equipment .......................................... 5
4.4 Towing Skid Mounted Plant & Equipment ........................ 5
5.0 Recovery of Vehicles ...................................................6
5.1 Recovery Equipment .................................................... 6
5.2 Recovery of Plant and Equipment ................................... 6
5.3 Design of Towing/Recovery Equipment Configuration ........ 7
5.4 Towing Mobile Plant ..................................................... 7
5.5 Recovery of Mobile Plant............................................... 8
5.6 Towing Excavator Buckets & Track Components ............... 8
5.7 Towing Pipes & Pipelines............................................... 8
6.0 Monitoring and Review ................................................9
USEFUL REFERENCES & FORMS .................................... 9
REVISION HISTORY.................................................... 10

AUTHORISATION

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Towing and Recovery of Plant

PROCEDURE AND INFORMATION

This procedure describes key requirements to ensure the safety of personnel involved in the
towing and recovery of mobile plant, and the towing of rubber tyred and skid-mounted
trailers, pipes, heavy equipment tracks and buckets in accordance with the Coal Mining Safety
and Health Regulation section 72(b).

Procedure Information
1.0 Intent
This procedure is applicable to all mobile equipment
(including light & heavy vehicles) and any other equipment
used in any towing and recovery operations at Burton Coal
Project.

2.0 Definitions
Fundamentally Stable
Vehicles or mobile equipment cannot roll away or move in an
uncontrolled manner, even if the park brake is released and
the transmission is in neutral.
For other equipment, such as excavator buckets, tracks,
pipes or pipelines, it means there is no stored energy or
potential for uncontrolled movement, such as rolling, sliding
or springing, which may unexpectedly load-up the towing
equipment.
Lifting Equipment
Slings, shackles, etc. used exclusively for lifting and not for
towing.
Mobile Equipment
Mobile equipment includes all light & heavy vehicles, ancillary
plant and earthmoving equipment used for transport,
operations and maintenance in and around the surface area
of the mine site.
Recovery
Extraction of a disabled vehicle or equipment after an
incident. Incidents include equipment becoming bogged, or
mechanically disabled, or disabled after an accident.
Shall & Should
The word ―shall‖ is to be understood as mandatory and the
word ―should‖ as non-mandatory, advisory or recommended.
Spotter
A person guiding the operator of mobile equipment.
Towing
Pulling a wheeled or tracked vehicle or a rubber tyred or
skid-mounted trailer or a pipeline or a bucket or a track
behind another vehicle, either on a formed road or other

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Towing and Recovery of Plant
surface.
Towing / Recovery Equipment
Slings, shackles, connection strops and specialised links or
frames, connection lugs and attachments that are used
exclusively for towing, painted pink and stored separately
from lifting equipment.
Note: Lifting equipment and lifting points do not qualify as
towing equipment.
Trailer
Rubber tyred or skid mounted unit designed specifically to be
towed, and permanently fitted with an engineered towing
hitch & drawbar and connection system for attaching to the
towing vehicle.
Competent
A person who required to conduct towing and recovery
activities shall be trained and competent in the training
package.

3.0 Towing and Recovery

This procedure should be read in conjunction with the site
Mine Traffic Rules and Positive Communication procedures.

3.1 Personal Nominated to Tow

The competent person shall plan, control and conduct towing  Refer to Mine Traffic Rules
operations. AM-HS-PR-0818.01
Specific competencies are required for the following  Refer to Positive
positions: Communications in
Annexure 1 AM-HS-PR-
Operators of towing and towed equipment; and
0818.01
Escort vehicle drivers.

4.0 Towing Plant and Equipment

4.1 Towing of Trailers

Towing vehicles shall be suitably matched to the trailer for  Refer to Transport
weight and hitch compatibility, and capable of completing the Operations (Road Use
tow using the selected towing route. Management—Vehicle
All plant and equipment shall to have current certifications Standards and Safety)
where required, and be inspected prior to use. Regulation 2010.
 Refer to Transport
Rubber tyred trailers shall have twin safety chains. Operations (Road Use
If required, other road users shall be kept informed of the Management—Mass,
tow via the use of two-way radio, flashing lights, escort Dimensions and Loading)
vehicles or via other appropriate means. Regulation 2005.
Towing lighting plants shall be in accordance with the Towing
Lighting plant HTG
Lighting Plants How-To Guide.
Trailers shall be fundamentally stable prior to being

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Towing and Recovery of Plant
disconnected from the towing vehicle.
Towing plant and equipment alters the performance of the
towing vehicle, therefore, the following shall be confirmed
prior to towing:
The Plant / equipment being towed has been prepared
e.g. fold up or down, etc.;
Towing of heavy equipment shall only be done under  Refer to Set up and Towing
the guidance of an escort vehicle with suitable flashing of Lighting Plants AM-BT-
lights; and HS-HTG-0818.05-1
o General mine traffic shall be advised by radio.
Trailers being towed during hours of darkness or poor
visibility shall be illuminated with suitable lighting;
Towing of other vehicles is permitted only when the
correct slings and hitching points are used;
Both drivers must be authorised for the types of
vehicles being used; and:
o Hazard lights are to be flashing on both
vehicles.
Trailers can only be towed by vehicles fitted with
proper towing attachments, including safety chain for
that trailer;
To establish suitability of a towing vehicle; the towing
vehicle shall have an identified towing capacity rating
which is suitable for the gross combined mass of the
trailer to be towed;
All trailers must have the gross combined mass rating
clearly displayed;
o If the towing capacity or gross combined weight
cannot be identified – DO NOT TOW;
Trailers are to be fitted with a braking system, e.g.
Hayman Reece, coupled to the towing vehicle where
the towed load is greater than 75% of the weight of
the towing vehicle;
An inspection of the towing vehicle and the equipment
or vehicle under tow has been undertaken to ensure it
is fit for purpose and is within the required capacity;
and
Where applicable, safety chains are secured.
A JSEA shall be completed if towing in the following
circumstances:
Any non-routine towing on site, e.g. breakdowns;
Wet roads, ramps or grades;
Congested work areas;
Poor visibility, undulating or sloping ground
conditions; and
Inclement weather.

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Towing and Recovery of Plant

4.2 Hook up, Transporting and Placing Equipment

When reversing back to hook up equipment, a spotter shall  If no camera is installed on
be utilised. the towing vehicle, a spotter
Ensure plant is correctly hitched and secured with all safety is required
pins and chains attached, lights plugged in and the jockey
wheel in the transport position.
Whilst towing, vehicles shall be driven at a speed that
maintains full control and safety of the vehicle and load
under tow, in accordance with the conditions and
Refer to Set Up and Towing of
circumstances of the tow. Lighting plants shall be towed in
Lighting Plants AM-BT-HS-HTG-
accordance with the site how to guide.
0818.05-1
Prior to unhooking the plant/equipment, ensure the area has
sufficient ground conditions, i.e. level, compacted, correct
bunding, drainage, etc.
Lower the stabilising legs to ensure the plant/equipment does
not have an uncontrolled movement once unhooked.

4.3 Towing Irregular Equipment

Slings should be utilised for towing vehicles or equipment not  Refer to Transport
designed specifically to be towed, e.g. grader, rear dump Operations (Road Use
trucks and loaders. Where this is required a JSEA shall be Management—Vehicle
conducted taking the following into consideration: Standards and Safety)
Regulation 2010.
Distance to be travelled;
Gradient;  Refer to Transport
Operations (Road Use
Environmental conditions;
Management—Mass,
Towing speed, steering capabilities; Dimensions and Loading)
Tow hitch, braking system; Regulation 2005.

The weight of the towed plant;

The distance between the towed and the towing
vehicle;
Communication requirements to notify others; and  Refer to Communication
Disconnecting components to prevent further damage Protocol in Annexure 1 of
i.e. axles and tail shaft. AM-HS-PR-0818.01

NOTE: Towing skid mounted pumps for long distances can

cause them to heat up and catch fire.

4.4 Towing Skid Mounted Plant & Equipment

Towing plant shall be suitably matched to the skid mounted
plant and equipment for weight and hitch compatibility, and
capable of completing the tow using the selected towing
route.
Skid drawbar materials may consist of chains, steel wire
rope, or structural steel, and shall be selected and connected
by a competent person.
Flammable or combustible materials shall be removed from
the area around skids before towing.

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Towing and Recovery of Plant
Towing distance should be restricted to a maximum of 2km.

5.0 Recovery of Vehicles

5.1 Recovery Equipment

Recovery equipment shall be:  Refer to Recovery of Plant
Painted pink and stored separately from all lifting and Equipment AM-BT-HS-
equipment; HTG-0839-1

Stored undercover and protected from any damage;

 There is a dedicated trailer
for plant / equipment
Identified in a site recovery equipment register; recovery slings and
Subjected to the same 3rd party inspection regime as equipment storage
the site lifting equipment, with inspection frequencies of
no less than 3-months;
Inspected for damage or defects by an experienced
person prior to every use; and
Tagged ―Out of Service‖ and quarantined or destroyed if
found to be damaged or unserviceable.

5.2 Recovery of Plant and Equipment

Prior to recovering any plant or equipment:  Refer to Towing and
Recovery of Plant AM-BT-
The recovery of plant checklist shall be completed;
HS-PR-0839
Prior to the recovery taking place workshop
maintenance personnel shall:
o Inspect the equipment to ensure that the
process will cause no further damage to the
equipment; and
o Check the connections of the towing equipment
to the machine.
Authorisation gained from:
o Mining Supervisor; and
o The Workshop Supervisor or delegate.
A JSEA shall also be completed and consideration
given to the following:
o The mass of the load;
o Resistance to the pull;
o The SWL of the slings;
o Approved towing points;
o Ignition sources / outbreak of fire;
o Use of a recovery trailer;
o Bogged vehicle to have the engine running and
in drive if possible;
o Lighting requirements;  Refer to Incident
o PPE requirements; Management AM-HS-PR-
1302
o Bunding and barricading requirements to
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Towing and Recovery of Plant
restrict access; and
o No person on the ground within 50 metres of
the recovery sling whilst under tension.
 Refer to Positive and
Once the equipment has been recovered workshop Effective Isolation - Mobile
personnel shall inspect to determine: Plant AM-BT-HS-PR-
0844.02
o Whether the machine is operational;
o The extent of damage; and
o Whether the machine can be returned to
service.
If the recovery is due to a serious accident or high potential
incident the incident management procedure shall be
complied with and authorisations gained, prior to disturbing
the incident scene.
Personnel involved in the recovery operation shall be
appropriately trained and experienced to undertake all
required tasks. Recovery of equipment shall be undertaken in
accordance with the Recovery of equipment how to guide.
Where equipment is required to be isolated refer to the
Positive and Effective Isolation - Mobile Plant procedure.

5.3 Design of Towing/Recovery Equipment

Configuration
Towing / recovery equipment configuration and make-up
shall be designed by a competent person.
If special towing points or lugs are required, they shall be
 Refer to Recovery of Plant
designed and/or assessed by a competent person.
& Equipment AM-BT-HS-
If a welded-on lug is required for towing, the lug shall be HTG-0839-1
designed and fitted by a competent person.
High tensile chains shall not be used as recovery equipment.
Recovery slings shall be purpose designed Kevlar.
If a dozer ripper is required as a towing point, a purpose-
designed connection strop shall be used between the towing
sling and the ripper.

5.4 Towing Mobile Plant

Planning and Safety Requirements

A risk assessment (JSEA or HIT) shall be completed for the  Refer to Set up and Towing
task. of Lighting Plants AM-BT-
The towing vehicle size shall be assessed as sufficient to HS-HTG-0818.05-1
control the tow.  Refer to Lifting Equipment
(Lifting Operations) AM-BT-
Where possible, provide an alternative method to stop the
HS-PR-0821.01
towed vehicle in the event of an emergency.

Position the towing equipment using the correct manual
handling procedures.

Towing Requirements
Towing equipment failure clearance zones shall be created,  Towing equipment is not
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Towing and Recovery of Plant
minimum clearance required = 1.5 x the total length of the designed to take shock
towing equipment in all directions. loading
Ensure the towing vehicle slowly takes up any slack in the
towing equipment.

After Towing Requirements

Prior to the removal of the towing equipment ensure the Refer to Positive and Effective
towed and towing equipment are fundamentally stable with Isolation - Mobile Plant AM-BT-
no risk of uncontrolled movement. HS-PR-0844.02
Inspect the towing equipment for damage.

5.5 Recovery of Mobile Plant

In the event of equipment being damaged and disabled due  Refer to Recovery of Plant
to an incident, the site emergency response and incident Checklist AM-BT-HS-HTG-
reporting and investigation procedures shall be followed prior 0839-2
to any recovery action.
 Refer to Refer to Recovery
A risk assessment (JSEA) shall be conducted for the task. of Plant & Equipment AM-
BT-HS-HTG-0839-1
Plan and conduct the recovery in accordance with the towing
procedures as outlined above.  Refer to Lifting Equipment
(Lifting Operations) AM-BT-
If lifting is required in conjunction with towing, lifting shall be HS-PR-0821.01
conducted in accordance with site lifting procedures.
Following recovery, maintenance personnel shall inspect the
equipment for damage or defects prior to the equipment
being returned to service or taken for further repairs.

5.6 Towing Excavator Buckets & Track Components

Large earthmoving buckets and track components shall be Transport of Heavy Plant
lifted onto trucks or floats and transported around site. and Supplies

5.7 Towing Pipes & Pipelines

This section applies where pipes or sections of pipeline are
towed. Examples of pipelines include tailings or co-disposal
pipelines, pump suction or discharge lines, high-wall risers
etc.

Planning & Safety Requirements

A risk assessment (JSEA or HIT) shall be completed for the
task.
 Refer to Lifting Equipment
Ensure the weight of the pipeline plus any product is allowed (Lifting Operations) AM-BT-
for. HS-PR-0821.01
The towing vehicle size shall be assessed as sufficient to
control the tow.
Position the towing equipment using the correct manual
handling procedures.
Cranes shall not be used for towing or dragging pipelines.

Towing Requirements
Towing equipment failure clearance zones shall be created.
Minimum clearance required 50 metres.

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Towing and Recovery of Plant
Ensure the towing vehicle slowly takes up any slack in the
towing equipment, as towing equipment is not designed to
take shock loading.

After Towing Requirements

Prior to the removal of the towing equipment ensure the
towed and towing equipment are fundamentally stable with
no risk of uncontrolled movement.
Inspect the towing equipment for damage.
Inspect the towing route for damage.

6.0 Monitoring and Review

The on going application and effectiveness of this procedure
shall be monitored via the following processes:
Audits shall be conducted at least once every two years
to confirm compliance with this procedure;
Monthly inspections shall be conducted to confirm
compliance;
Job Observations shall be conducted on an ongoing
basis to confirm correct work methods; and
The requirements and outcomes of inspections and
audits shall be recorded within HSE System Eyes.
Unless otherwise triggered via an incident, process change,
or other event, this procedure and the associated risk
assessment shall be reviewed at least once in three years.

USEFUL REFERENCES & FORMS

REFERENCES FORMS
Manual Handling AM-HS-PR-0803Site Recovery of Plant Checklist AM-BT-HS-FO-
0839-2
Personal Protective Equipment AM-HS-PR-
0826 JSEA form
Audits, Inspections and Observations AM-HS- Lifting Equipment Register AM-BT-HS-RE-
PR-1400 0821.01
Mine Traffic Rules AM-HS-PR-0818.01 Lifting pre-lift checklists
Positive Communications in Annexure 1 AM-
HS-PR-0818.01
Set up and Towing of Lighting Plants AM-BT-
HS-HTG-0818.05-1
Lifting Equipment (Lifting Operations) AM-BT-
HS-PR-0821.01
Positive and Effective Isolation - Mobile Plant
AM-BT-HS-PR-0844.02
Recovery of Plant & Equipment AM-BT-HS-
HTG-0839-1
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Towing and Recovery of Plant
Towing Excavator Buckets AM-BT-HS-HTG-
0839-2

REVISION HISTORY
Issue/
Date Revision Description By Checked Checked Approved
Rev.
A1 3/9/2010 DRAFT FOR REVIEW GH
Revised Draft
Added 4WD vehicle guide
Added lifting associated
A2 8/9/2010 GH
with recovery
Corrected errors in pipe
towing section
Removed detail information
A3 13/9/2010 GH
to ―Protocol Sheets‖
S
V3 03/10/2011 Reformatted document G Turvey L Latcham
Edwards

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