The truck was on hire to the mine since mid-2014. It is one of three similar units in service at the operation.
The truck was watering a ramp leading to a production area when the operator noticed smoke in the rear-view mirror.
He began the mine emergency procedure via the two-way radio and continued to drive the vehicle down the ramp aiming to drive the machine to an isolated location. During this time the power steering system failed.
The operator stopped the truck well clear of the ramp, got off the machine and used an emergency stop to shut down the engine when he reached ground level. By this time, thick smoke surrounded the machine and the operator saw a significant fire in the engine bay.
In accordance with site procedures, an exclusion zone was established around the machine to manage the risks associated with a tyre fire. As the fire intensified, the front right-hand tyre exploded, resulting in the wheel rim coming to rest approximately 100 metres from the truck.
Last Updated: 11/03/2022 01:01:57pm