Mine operators are being reminded to ensure all vehicles entering sites meet the required safety standards after a reversing delivery van seriously injured a worker.
The NSW Resources Regulator issued the reminder after the worker sustained a fractured knee and back injury when they were struck by the van while facing away from the vehicle.
According to the regulator, the delivery van did not have a reversing alarm or reversing camera. The vehicle had also not been inducted onto the mine site before the incident occurred.
In response, the regulator has urged mine operators to follow site induction procedures for all incoming vehicles to ensure they meet the mine’s required safety standards before being allowed to operate.
It said any plant or vehicle entering a mine for the first time should be verified as fit for its intended purpose and safe to use, while operators must receive the training, instruction and supervision necessary to safely carry out their work.
The regulator also recommended that, as a minimum, delivery vans accessing mine sites should be fitted with a functioning reversing alarm and reversing camera, with both systems tested and confirmed to be operating correctly.
Effective site entry processes help ensure vehicles are equipped with the necessary safety features and that operators understand site traffic management arrangements before beginning work, reducing the risk of vehicle interactions that can result in serious injuries.
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