The recent wet weather in eastern parts of Australia has contributed to a high potential incident at a surface mine involving a haul truck collision. The NSW Resources Regulator has advised today that the incident involved “a collision occurred between two dump trucks while they were operating in wet conditions.”
An unloaded truck was descending a ramp from the ROM pad and another truck had stopped after losing traction and sliding on the ramp. The unloaded truck also lost traction and slid, rotated and stopped adjacent to the stationary truck. The stationary truck then recommenced climbing the ramp but again lost traction and slid, hitting the unloaded truck. The truck operators did not communicate with each other before moving away.
The stationary truck then recommenced climbing the ramp but again lost traction and slid, hitting the unloaded truck
Recommendations to industry
The NSW Resources Regulator says that “Mines must create an environment where operators and supervisors are able to stop work when conditions are unsafe to continue operating. When conditions become unsafe, operators and supervisors must be challenged as to why they have not stopped. The risks of wet weather operations are well known. Operators and supervisors must be trained in relevant procedures. Equipment operators should not proceed without clear communication with other workers in the area or other workers who may be affected.”
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