Jeff Rapley, a miner of 10 years, had his big toe and fourth toe on his right foot amputated after stepping into a void only covered with mesh while working on a piece of mine equipment known as a scraper conveyor.

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A NSW Resource Regulator investigation found there were a range of safety issues that led to the accident, including inadequate lighting (which meant Mr Rapley could not see the void), a missing safety rail, an emergency stop lanyard not being installed and not identifying the risk of covering the void with mesh.

The investigation also found there was "a failure to follow the mine's policy and procedures in relation to the site introduction process for the new scraper conveyor".

Mr Rapley claimed the new scraper conveyor that replaced an old one had been installed quickly because without it, coal had to be taken out through other mine entrances - a more expensive process.

"That particular piece of equipment had not been introduced to the site," Mr Rapley said.

"The re-commissioning process is the part of their safety protocol. Everything that is out on the surface has to be checked to engineer specifications and signed off before it gets sent underground and they didn't do it."

On the night of the accident, Mr Rapley was wearing gumboots which allowed him to pull his foot free, rather than being pulled further into the machine.

The former police detective pulled off the T-shirt he was wearing under his work shirt and wrapped up his mangled foot.

Then he had to climb a 10-rung ladder and start to hop along an uphill drift, which is where mine workers carrying a stretcher found him.

Then it was a 12-minute ride to the surface and waiting paramedics.

Mr Rapley, who is considering legal action, is furious with the way he claims South32 has treated him.

"No one from South 32 management has bothered even to ring me or visit me in hospital," he said.

Mr Rapley said fellow miners had been sacked for minor safety breaches.

"We commit one safety breach and we're gone. Look what they did to me."

A South32 spokesman declined to answer questions about the commissioning of the scraper conveyor or whether management visited Mr Rapley in hospital.

"Our thoughts continue to be with the worker affected by this incident," the spokesman said.

"Nothing is more important to us than our people returning home safely at the end of each shift. We are continuing to work with the NSW Resources Regulator on this matter."

After an accident at Appin mine that saw him lose two toes, life has changed for Jeff Rapley.

The miner from the western Sydney suburb of Camden Park, was injured in an accident in June last year.

As well as losing his big toe and fourth toes to amputation and having the sole of his foot almost torn off, Mr Rapley said doctors at one stage considered amputating his whole right foot.

However, after inserting 60 sutures, the sole was saved.

After no fewer than seven operations in the wake of the incident - including one for a blood clot and pulmonary embolism - life is now very different for the sportsman who played rugby league into his 40s.

"I'll never run again," Mr Rapley said.

"Your big toe is the last part of your body that leaves the ground. That's what gives you the propulsion, the power to push off.

"I don't have any balance now. If I tried balancing on my right foot I can't do it - I can only have my left foot off the ground for about five seconds."

The lack of balance is so pronounced he has to walk downstairs sideways, one step at a time.

He can no longer walk barefoot on the beach - or anywhere else - because he has no sensation on the sole of his right foot.

But it's the fact he can no longer work underground that "devastated" him.

"I loved going to work," he said.

"The camaraderie, the mateship is probably the closest thing you'll get to a football team."

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