A light vehicle narrowly avoided a collision with a haul truck at a New South Wales open cut coal mine last week, prompting warnings from the NSW Resources Regulator.
The light vehicle had parked with one person aboard on a blind corner of the main haul road when the incident occurred. The driver had stopped to observe an excavator through a drainage gap in the windrow.
The haul truck operator noticed the collision avoidance system identify the vehicle on the in-cab screen and assumed it was on a lower bench.
Continuing around the corner, the driver saw the light vehicle parked up. The operator took evasive action as there were no oncoming vehicles and crossed onto the wrong side of the haul road to prevent a potential collision.
The haul truck was brought to a stop with the retarder because the haul road had been watered.
“The risk of a fatality from interactions between light and heavy vehicles is well known,” the NSW Resources Regulator said.
“Light vehicle drivers should be continually reminded of their obligations when driving on haul roads.
“Mine operators must ensure all roadways, intersections and park-up areas are designed, constructed, and maintained to safely manage interactions between mobile plant and light vehicles.”
Last year, the Regulator released a targeted awareness campaign aiming to bring attention to the risks associated with vehicle regulations on mine sites:
Another recent vehicle incident also drew the attention of the state Regulator, leading it to urge workers and operators alike to consider correct braking procedure.
The incident occurred at an underground coal mine in NSW last week and involved a miner becoming trapped between a light vehicle and a ventilation door for almost an hour before he was discovered.
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