Operator awareness has come into focus after a reversing articulated truck collided with another articulated truck parked at a construction materials mine in New South Wales.
According to the NSW Resources Regulator, the reversing truck backed into the parked vehicle, causing damage to its bonnet and handrail. However, neither operator was injured.
While investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision were not detailed, the regulator used the incident to remind mine operators to review the controls outlined in their principal hazard management plans for roads and other vehicle operating areas.
It said these plans should consider all factors that may affect operator awareness and support the safe movement of mobile plant across mine sites.
The regulator also directed the industry to its Surface Roads or Other Vehicle Operating Areas technical reference guide, highlighting Layer 4 of its layered defence approach, which focuses on ensuring only trained, inducted and authorised personnel operate vehicles and carry out site tasks.
Layer 7 of the guide focuses on operator awareness, encouraging mine operators to consider technologies that improve an operator’s understanding of their surroundings and help identify hazards in the immediate operating environment.
The regulator said mine operators should continue reviewing controls as technologies evolve to further reduce the risk of vehicle interactions across mining operations.
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