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Close Call at NSW Coal Mine Serves as a Timely Reminder

by Krystal

A close call at a New South Wales coal mine last week has led to safety warnings from the NSW Resources Regulator. A light vehicle, with one person inside, nearly collided with a haul truck at an open-cut mine site.

The incident took place when the light vehicle was parked on a blind corner of the main haul road. The driver had stopped there to watch an excavator through a gap in the windrow, which is a mound of dirt used for drainage.

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The haul truck operator, who was driving around the corner, saw the light vehicle on the in-cab collision avoidance system screen. The operator thought the vehicle was on a lower bench and continued driving. Upon seeing the parked light vehicle, the haul truck driver took immediate evasive action, crossing to the opposite side of the road to avoid a collision, as there were no other vehicles coming.

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The haul truck was stopped using a retarder, a device that helps control the speed of heavy vehicles on steep descents, after the haul road had been watered to prevent dust and improve traction.

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The NSW Resources Regulator emphasized the well-known risk of fatalities from interactions between light and heavy vehicles on mine sites. They urged light vehicle drivers to be aware of their responsibilities when driving on haul roads and called on mine operators to ensure that all roadways, intersections, and parking areas are designed, constructed, and maintained to manage safely the interactions between mobile plant and light vehicles.

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The Regulator had previously launched a targeted awareness campaign last year to highlight the risks associated with vehicle regulations on mine sites. Another recent incident, this time at an underground coal mine in NSW, involved a miner who was trapped between a light vehicle and a ventilation door for nearly an hour before being found. This incident has also drawn the attention of the state Regulator, who is urging workers and operators to consider proper braking procedures.

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