Since June of 1989, nine miners or contractors have died after the car or truck they were driving was crushed by a large surface mining machine. In every case, the primary cause was determined to be an inability to see the smaller vehicle. Although eliminating blind spots by way of mirrors and cameras are the best means of reducing this hazard, a quick, simple remedy can give immediate relief.
Most surface mines use bright warning flags on their smaller vehicles.
As the size of loaders, haulage trucks, scrapers, and other large machines have increased in recent years, the height of these warning flags for the most part have remained the same. MSHA's suggests raising the height of the flag to the middle of the mirror of the largest piece of haulage equipment in operation. This puts the flag on the operator's eye level, making it much more noticeable . A flashing strobe light mounted on the smaller vehicles is an effective nighttime warning device and, when coupled with a properly extended flagpole and flag, provides an excellent combination. Non-conductive, telescopic poles with flags and strobe lights are commercially available.