A New South Wales mining company has reported damage to a pump and associated infrastructure at its heavy vehicle wash bay after an unattended haul truck rolled 65 metres and crashed into the pump.
The New South Wales Resources Regulator investigated the site and found that the workshop park-up hump did not meet site standards.
The truck operator had not selected the park brake and further inspection of the truck, the CAT793D, showed that the fail-safe park brake did not activate when the ignition was switched off.
This was due to the failure of a solenoid on one of the park brake valves.
The remainder of the mine’s fleet was inspected and the same fault was identified on another vehicle.
“Mine workers must ensure they apply the park brake prior to exiting mobile plant and not rely on safety interlocks or other means of application of the park brake,” the regulator stated.
“All mobile plant park-up areas (should be) designed, constructed and maintained to enable safe and stable parking.
“Work area inspections verify that mobile plant park-up areas are constructed and maintained to standard.”
The resources regulator also recommended that brake testing regimes on mobile plant include fail-safe mechanisms and interlocks are tested to prevent rollaway events.
The investigation into the accident is still under way.