Significant incident report no. 6 | 27 August 1999 | Version 1
Coal mine - surface
A bulldozer operator, whilst travelling between two jobs in a Toyota personnel vehicle, became disorientated. He drove his vehicle onto a road believed to be closed, past two rills and not seeing the final highwall delineation rill in time to stop passed over the crest of a pre-strip highwall falling 12m. The vehicle suffered substantial damage to the driver's side cabin area.
Light vehicle
Inadequate vehicle barriers for highwalls
The key factor leading to the accident was the removal of Road Closed signs and the dozing of rills at the beginning of the side road. Other contributing factors include:
The fact that the operator was wearing his seat belt and the vehicle had a substantial roll bar saved his life. Other recommendations include:
Contact: minesafetyandhealth@dnrm.qld.gov.au
Issued by Queensland Department of Mines and Energy
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All information on this page (Light vehicle crashes over highwall - https://www.rshq.qld.gov.au/safety-notices/mines/light-vehicle-crashes-over-highwall) is correct as of time of printing (May 19, 2024 7:02 pm).