At 11.50 pm on Saturday, 30 November 2013, 38-year-old Ingrid Forshaw, a trainee plant operator employed by TESA Mining (NSW) Pty Ltd, was fatally injured while working at the Ravensworth open cut mine, near Singleton NSW (Ravensworth mine). Ms Forshaw suffered fatal injuries when the Toyota Landcruiser she was driving collided with and was run over by the front right-hand side wheel of a haul dump truck (Caterpillar 793D), weighing approximately 351 tonnes (including 186 tonnes of coal).
Ms Forshaw had earlier parked the haul truck she was operating at a stockpile and collected a Landcruiser that was parked at the stockpile by another operator at the start of the shift. Ms Forshaw was driving to collect other workers and go to a crib (meal) break.
The truck operator was hauling coal along the 9th haul road (a main haul road in the Narama area). As he approached the T-intersection with the stockpile ramp (8th ramp) he saw the Landcruiser travelling down the 8th ramp. As the truck operator approached the T-intersection he saw the Landcruiser enter the 9th haul road to his right and then he lost sight of it.
At the time, vehicles approaching the T-intersection on the 8th ramp were required to give way to vehicles on the 9th haul road.
The Landcruiser driver turned right onto the 9th haul road into the path of the truck. The truck and Landcruiser collided and Ms Forshaw was crushed inside the Landcruiser and died immediately from multiple injuries.
Recommendations
Consider separation of light vehicles and heavy vehicles on haul roads.
• Consider alternatives to the use of light vehicles for personnel transport while heavy vehicles are being operated on haul roads.
• Consider the use of traffic management systems which manage vehicle interactions at intersections, i.e. traffic signals, warning lights and hard barriers.
• Ensure appropriate road grades, lines of sight, windrow heights, speed limits and signage at intersections.
• Consider the location and impact of background lighting and its potential to disorientate or confuse operators while driving on haul roads and at intersections.
• Consider dedicated haul road and intersection lighting and ensure lighting is adequate.
• Ensure haul roads and intersections are adequately maintained on a regular basis.
• Consider the visibility of heavy vehicles and in particular haul trucks during night operations. Consideration should be given to the location, cleanliness and operation of vehicle lighting and the use and positioning of reflective materials, to enhance visibility of the vehicle.
• Consider the use of proximity detection and collision avoidance systems on light vehicles and heavy vehicles.
• Ensure daily inspections of haul roads and intersections are carried out by a competent person.
• Undertake regular documented surface transport management audits and risks assessments on all mine roads and intersections, which consider both day and night operation.