A near-miss between two haul trucks at an open-cut coal mine has prompted the NSW Resources Regulator to reinforce the importance of site road rules and collision avoidance measures.
According to the regulator, the incident occurred at night when one Caterpillar 793 haul truck failed to give way to another at a T-intersection, contrary to the site’s road rules.
The truck that failed to give way was travelling at about 45km/h as it entered the intersection. Both vehicles stopped approximately 4m apart, narrowly avoiding a collision.
Following the incident, the regulator reminded mine operators to continually review the suitability of collision avoidance technology as new systems become available and existing technologies continue to evolve.
It also pointed operators to its Surface Roads and Other Vehicle Operating Areas (ROVOA) technical reference guide, which highlights the importance of effective operating procedures, including clear road rules governing vehicle movements and right-of-way at mine sites.
The guide also identifies operator awareness as a key layer of defence, encouraging the use of technologies that provide drivers with better visibility of their surroundings and help identify potential hazards in the vicinity of mobile equipment.
The regulator emphasised that mine operators should regularly review site road rules alongside available technologies to help reduce the risk of vehicle interactions, particularly at intersections and other areas where large mobile equipment operates.
Subscribe to Safe to Work for the safety news that matters most to the Australian mining industry.
