Near miss at NSW mine as distracted loader operator nearly collides with light vehicle, prompting safety alert and call for better traffic controls

The NSW Resources Regulator has issued a safety alert following a near miss involving a front-end loader and a light vehicle in an open cut mine, highlighting the risks of operator distraction and visibility limitations in mobile plant operations.

The incident, which occurred in May 2025, involved a front-end loader travelling uphill at approximately 10 km/h toward an intersection where a light vehicle with two occupants was waiting to turn. The loader operator, unaware of the vehicle's presence, failed to stop. The light vehicle operator took evasive action, steering left onto the haul road just moments before a potential collision that could have resulted in serious injury or death.

According to the incident investigation, the loader operator had been distracted by use of the two-way radio and had restricted visibility due to the position of the loader bucket. The operator did not recognise the light vehicle until contacted by radio after the event. Despite the light vehicle being fitted with both a flag and an operational flashing light, it was not seen.

A formal Incident Cause Analysis Method (ICAM) review was undertaken. In response, the NSW Resources Regulator has made several key recommendations for mine site operators and equipment drivers:

• Maintain full situational awareness and eliminate distractions while operating mobile plant;

• Establish and enforce risk-assessed approaches to manage vehicle interactions;

• Investigate and, where feasible, implement dedicated light vehicle separation roadways and collision avoidance systems;

• Include human and organisational factors in vehicle risk assessments;

• Ensure any defective equipment is immediately reported and withdrawn from use if safety is compromised.

The regulator urges all sites to communicate the safety alert widely, ensure integration into site safety management systems, and display it prominently in common areas.

Photos of the alert re-enact the incident, showing the loader’s proximity to the light vehicle and the intersection layout that contributed to the near miss. The imagery underlines the importance of engineering controls and operator vigilance on shared haul roads.

The safety alert (SA25-01) is accessible on the Resources Regulator website and joins a growing body of guidance materials aimed at reducing mobile equipment incidents across the NSW mining industry.