THE Queensland Department of Mines and Energy (DME) has issued a safety alert after a dozer fell from a bench at a surface coal mine.
According to the DME, a Caterpillar D11T dozer was cleaning along a bench to remove a ramp when the vehicle dropped over the bench edge, falling 12 metres onto a pile of loose material.
The dozer did not capsize and the operator did not sustain any injuries.
It is believed the dozer operator overestimated the clearance between the bench edge and the material he was to push.
The Department is urging mines to review control measures and consider applying GPS technology to assist operators to accurate locate dangerous zones.
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