Mineral Mines & Quarries Inspectorate | Bulletin | No.219 V 1 | 22 April 2024
In a 14-month period, there have been eight High Potential Incidents relating to tow hitches. Trailers detaching while in motion present a significant hazard to persons on mine sites.
Incident Date | Incident Description | Failure Mechanism | Primary Causes |
---|---|---|---|
21/2/24 | A loaded truck and dog was travelling between mines on public roads when the trailer separated. | A-frame drawbar structure failed behind the hitch. | Fatigue loading failure. |
11/2/24 | A loaded B double travelling on a site haul road - rear trailer has separated. | Bolt-in drawbar eye sheared. | Fatigue loading failure. |
13/12/23 | Light vehicle towing a fuel trailer along a site road - trailer has separated. | Tow hitch insert sheared - safety chains not attached. | Tow hitch underrated for duties. |
10/12/23 | A loaded quad road train was travelling on a regional road. Three trailers have separated. | Bolt-in drawbar towing eye failed at thread. | Lock pin / bolt for the castellated nut sheared. |
20/7/23 | Light vehicle towing a dual axle trailer - trailer has separated from the tow vehicle. | Detached from tow ball - safety chains not connected. | Coupling not fastened securely during latching. |
18/4/23 | After proceeding through a boom gate, the rear trailer of a chemical delivery road train has separated. | Trailer kingpin uncoupled at turntable. | Coupling not fastened securely during latching. |
7/4/23 | A loaded triple road train was travelling on a haul road when the third trailer has separated. | Bolt-in drawbar eye sheared. | Fatigue loading failure. |
14/1/23 | Loaded road train travelling on a haul road. The second trailer has separated. | Bolt-in drawbar towing eye has sheared. | Fatigue loading failure. |
The hitch arrangements for road trailer are often a high stress point and tend to fail in situ if operation and maintenance processes are not effective at maintaining a healthy hitch.
The hitch point is a safety-critical component. Consider if hitch arrangements on site are designed, operated, and maintained in a manner which reflects the operating environment with specific focus on:
Design: Appropriately robust and durable for the operating conditions, subjected loads, and life of product.
Operate: Vehicle speeds, acceleration, braking, cornering rates, road surfaces, safety chains / devices in place. Wet weather considerations, slopes / grades, QA for coupling / uncoupling activities.
Maintain: Lubrication, cleaning, inspection regime. Replacement of high stress components as a suitable frequency, assembly methods, QA of functions, tensioning, and corrosion management.
NHVR – Vehicle Standard Guide 4 (VSG4)
NHVR – Vehicle Standard Guide 31
Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation
National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual
Contact: Mark Genge, Inspector of Mines - Mechanical qldminesinspectorate@rshq.qld.gov.au
Issued by Resources Safety & Health Queensland
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All information on this page (Tow Hitch Failures - https://www.rshq.qld.gov.au/safety-notices/mines/tow-hitch-failures) is correct as of time of printing (Jul 28, 2024 1:53 am).