Mining›SWMS

Haul Truck Operation SWMS

Haul truck incidents are the leading cause of fatalities in Australian surface mining, with vehicle interaction events, edge rollover, and fatigue-related loss of control accounting for the majority of deaths. Haul trucks exceeding 200 tonnes gross vehicle mass operate on shared road networks with light vehicles, water carts, and other ancillary equipment, creating interaction risks that are amplified by the massive stopping distances and limited visibility inherent to these vehicles. Fatigue is a critical contributing factor in haul truck incidents, particularly on operations running 12-hour shifts with repetitive haul cycles. This SWMS covers haul truck operation, loading, dumping, and road management with controls mapped to state mining requirements.

Legal Requirements

regulation

WHS Regulation 2025 Part 5.2 — Plant; State mining legislation (traffic management requirements)

hrcw category

Work involving powered mobile plant (haul trucks >100 tonnes)

code of practice

Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace (binding July 2026 under Section 26A)

section 26a binding

Yes — Plant code binding July 2026. State mining traffic management requirements apply additionally.

Hazards

Hazard	Consequence	Likelihood
Collision between haul truck and light vehicle on mine roads	Fatal crush injuries to light vehicle occupants	Possible
Haul truck rollover from edge failure at dump points and pit ramps	Operator fatality, catastrophic equipment damage	Unlikely
Fatigue-related loss of control during repetitive haul cycles	Collision, rollover, fatality	Possible
Tire failure and explosion during operation or maintenance	Fatal projectile injuries, blast injuries	Unlikely
Loss of braking on downhill haul routes due to brake fade or failure	Runaway truck, collision, fatality	Unlikely

Controls (Hierarchy of Controls)

Implement traffic management plan with priority rules, speed limits, and passing protocols for all mine roads

Install collision avoidance and proximity detection systems on all haul trucks

Install fatigue monitoring systems — camera-based or steering input analysis — on all haul trucks

Maintain edge protection berms at dump points and pit ramps at minimum half-wheel height

Conduct daily pre-start vehicle inspections covering brakes, steering, tyres, and safety systems

Implement tyre management program including pressure monitoring, exclusion zones during inflation, and safe change procedures

Restrict light vehicle access to haul roads using designated light vehicle routes and controlled intersections

Recent Prosecutions

Haul truck fatality — Western Australia$550,000

A light vehicle occupant was killed in a collision with a haul truck at an uncontrolled intersection on a mine haul road. The mine had no collision avoidance system, no controlled intersections, and light vehicles shared haul roads without priority protocols.

2023 — DMIRS Western Australia Prosecution Database

What Your SWMS Must Include

✓Traffic management plan showing haul routes, light vehicle routes, intersections, and priority rules

✓Fatigue management system specifications and alert response procedures

✓Collision avoidance system requirements and coverage map for mine road network

✓Edge protection standards for dump points, ramps, and pit edges

✓Pre-start inspection checklist covering brakes, steering, tyres, and all safety systems

Need a compliant Haul Truck Operation SWMS?

Our WHS consultants develop haul truck SWMS with traffic management plans, fatigue management systems, and collision avoidance specifications.