Prohibition notice prevents coalmine from using vehicles

A mine operator has been issued a prohibition notice, preventing the use of all vehicles at the Maules Creek Open Cut Coal Mine, after an inspection revealed multiple alleged breaches of mine procedures relating to the safe operation of light vehicles. The inspection comes after a dozer reversed over an unoccupied light vehicle, warranting an investigation by the NSW Resources Regulator.

The Regulator’s inspectors believed the nature and prevalence of the mine’s alleged breaches constituted a ‘serious risk’ to workers’ health and safety, and consequently served a notice under section 195 of NSW Work Health and Safety Act to the mine operator. The notice will remain in place until the mine has retrained all workers and supervisors, with work intended to restart progressively as workers on each shift are updated, according to the Regulator.

The investigation into the dozer incident is ongoing.

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