Alert no. 476 | 15 June 2026 | Version 1

VIDEO: Collision between bulldozer and ute

What happened?

• A bulldozer and a ute collided at a coal handling preparation plant stockpile in late May 2026.
• No one was injured from the collision however there was a significant risk of fatality.
• Initial learnings and issues identified from this incident are outlined below.

How did it happen?

• A bulldozer operator was backing down the western side of a stockpile across approximately 50 metres of open, flat ground in a straight line. The driver intended to pull up just short of a nearby light tower. The plan was to swap drivers for crib break.
• A ute and its driver were stationed nearby on the western side of the stockpile, parked near the light tower, where there was no designated parking area.
• The ute driver saw the bulldozer coming and established positive communication before entering the coal stockpile area with the bulldozer, however the 50/30 rule was not enacted (see Learnings for more).
• The bulldozer operator did not see the ute parked in front of the light tower and the two vehicles collided pushing the ute approximately two to three metres before the bulldozer stopped.
• The bulldozer did not have reversing cameras fitted.
• As the bulldozer approached, the ute driver attempted to radio the bulldozer operator however the radio communication was not received.
• Initial investigations show the procedures for ‘hot seat changeouts’ may not have been clear or were non-existent.
• Operators were routinely parking at the light tower bunded area on the western side of the stockpile to do crib time driver swaps. This was not a documented changeover location however over time it had become normalised as the location to stop and swap operators. The bunding at the western side light tower was not to standard and had eroded. The light tower was not parked fully within the bunded area.
• There is a designed parking area on the eastern side of the stockpile. That location has space for a light tower, and designated parking bays for light and heavy vehicles.

Watch the incident

Recommendations

• All site senior executives should take action to ensure associated risks are appropriately mitigated, noting the circumstances of this incident. Steps include those listed below.
• Review and enforcement of parking procedures by all participants, from the site senior executives to the supervisors and the coal mine workers
• Develop and implement safe work instructions for hot seat changeouts
• Ensure the application of the 50/30 rule as it applies to entering stockpile areas:
  • Communicate at 50 metres
  • Establish positive two-way communication with the machine operator or site supervisor
  • Stop vehicle at 30 metres
  • Park your vehicle outside the 30-metre exclusion zone.
• Refresher training: SOP checking and examining work area before coal mine workers proceed to a work area as well as checks and examinations by the coal mine workers of their specific work area, is recommended.
• Appropriate maintenance and fitment to applicable standards, for example:
  • Prepare and maintain well-constructed park up bays, fit for purpose.
  • Sign posting at these locations
  • Bunding around light towers
  • Positioning of light tower within the bunded areas
  • Fitment of reversing cameras to all bulldozers
  • Recording of two-way radio communications. Fitment of cameras to lite vehicles to interrogate relevant video footage.

Figure 1 - Impact the bulldozer had on the ute

Figure 2 - A general view of the secured incident scene

Figure 3 - View of the incident scene showing the bulldozer and ute

References and further information

• Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017 clause 138.