After a compliance failure led to a loaded haul truck rolling over, miners are being called on to ensure site procedures are strictly adhered to when operating equipment in open-cut mines.
A loaded haul truck was descending an in-pit ramp at a mine in New South Wales. Upon reaching the bottom of the ramp, the operator tried to negotiate a left-hand corner at speed.
According to the NSW Resources Regulator, the operator of the Hitachi 3500 haul truck failed to follow the site’s designated crest and ramp speeds, which caused the truck to hit the centre island and roll onto its side.
The operator, who failed to use the service (emergency brake) to bring the truck back under control, had to be extricated from the haul truck but was not injured as a result of the incident.
“The haul truck was recovered to allow truck monitoring systems to be downloaded, which identified the operator’s non-compliance to the site’s crest and ramp speed limits,” the regulator said.
A subsequent review also confirmed that the mine’s heavy vehicle infrastructure, including the ramp and intersection, complied with safety requirements.
In response to the incident, the regulator has released a safety alert and video to remind truck drivers to “always follow onsite speed limits and stay alert when operating heavy vehicles”.
Additional recommendations from the incident suggest mine operators conduct regular crest and ramp speed audits and review speed monitors.
Operators are also being urged to ensure they prioritise tasks when handling equipment, remain focused on the task being conducted (particularly designated ramp and crest speeds) and ensure automatic retards in haul trucks are set correctly.
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