Case Study: Why Mine Workers Prefer Buggy Whip Flags for Enhanced Safety

Background and project scope

The trial aimed to address frequent high-potential incidents involving LVs and heavy mobile equipment (HME). A proposal to trial LED-lit flags was submitted and approved by the Senior Leadership Team, leading to a three-month trial involving various suppliers, including Buggy Whip, Teterin, Fourreal Safety Gear, and Ashdowns.

Worker feedback on Buggy Whip flags

The feedback from mine workers on the Buggy Whip flags was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting their superior visibility and durability compared to other flags tested. Mick North, an Operator Control Engineer (OCE), praised the Buggy Whip flag on LV 801, stating it had the best LED visibility. Similarly, a 24-hour grader operator mentioned that the light was very easy to see from a distance without being overly bright. The dragline crew also noted that the white flag was very easily seen from the dragline when LV 806 was on top of the highwall.

Chris Booth, Curragh Safety Advisor, emphasized that the brightness of the 6ft and 4ft white lights did not impact drivers’ vision nor was it overly bright. Workers appreciated the additional utility of the flags, such as illuminating tools and equipment in the back of vehicles and spotting potential hazards like snakes on the ground. Throughout the trial, no damage or equipment failures were reported for the Buggy Whip flags, indicating their robustness under harsh mining conditions.

Comparative analysis

Other flags trialed included those from Teterin, Fourreal Safety Gear, and Ashdowns, which received mixed to negative feedback. Wayne Robinson, another OCE, reported positive visibility for the Teterin flag but noted an intermittent power issue and a broken flag incident. Danny Boyce, also an OCE and SSHR, appreciated the Teterin flag’s visibility but raised concerns about its durability in the sun and bumpy conditions.

Flags from Fourreal Safety Gear and Ashdowns, which featured LEDs only at the top, were criticized for insufficient brightness and poor mounting bracket quality. Broken flags were commonly reported, highlighting their lack of durability compared to the Buggy Whip flags.

Conclusion

The Buggy Whip flags with the full length LEDs were visible from across the pit during night operations and were given the name “Jedi night sabres’ by the mine workers. These flags stood out for their exceptional visibility, enhancing safety during night operations without causing visual discomfort to drivers.