Recommendations for Evaluating and Implementing Proximity Warning Systems on Surface Mining Equipment

by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Accidents involving surface mining equipment that collide with another vehicle, run over a pedestrian worker, or back over an embankment or other object are a major concern for mine workers and managers, regulators, insurance companies, and safety researchers. These accidents occur in spite of rules that require audible back-up alarms on mobile equipment (Code of Federal Regulations, 1999; Laroche, 2006). There are many factors that must be considered when looking at the cause of these accidents; including training issues, equipment design, equipment and job site operating procedures, worker fatigue, and equipment blind areas. Because the ultimate responsibility for the safe operation of equipment usually falls on the operator, there has been considerable interest in providing better information to the operator regarding obstacles and workers near the equipment.

90 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2013