A contractor, undertaking routine activities at a quarry, drove a Front-end Loader (FEL) from the wash plant to the stockyard.

The FEL was being followed by a Land Rover through the processing area. As the FEL approached a narrow roadway, it had stopped rapidly to avoid collision with an oncoming articulated dump truck (ADT).

To create space for the ADT, the FEL reversed, however the location of the 4x4 was unknown to the FEL driver. The FEL collided with the 4x4, causing significant damage to the front of the vehicle. Fortunately, nobody was injured.

The image below was taken from the CCTV footage at the site.

The damage to the front left passenger-side is shown in the image below.

• Ensure all your heavy mobile equipment (HME) and light vehicle operators are carrying out daily inspections on their vehicles.


• Any safety critical defects which may affect the safety of operating their machines at any time must be reported immediately.


• Undertake a toolbox talk on the safe operating distances for mobile plant and check all light vehicle operators are aware of leaving a minimum 15m safe distance between an HME and their vehicle when operating on site


• Ensure all operators communicate using radios or site agreed signals when operating in close proximity to one another.


• Ensure all aspects of your work place transport policies are completed with a valid and up to date traffic management plan.