Traffic interaction in quarries – safety and control measures
The CMPA hosted a one-day workshop, Traffic Interaction, on Thursday 19 March 2026 at the Mantra Hotel in Epping, with sponsorship from Onetrak.
David McKelvie from SafeMix and Dr Elizabeth Gibson, General Manager CMPA facilitated the day. David provided an introduction and overview of why operators needed to prioritise traffic flow in and out of their sites.
Michael Terry, OH&S Inspector, WorkSafe Victoria opened the morning with a presentation covering regulations and compliance, providing examples of near misses, incidents and high-risk hazards involving trucks, loaders and excavators.
Participants learnt about the importance of site layout and separation, traffic control measures, risk assessments, and operational procedures.
They also had the opportunity to break-out into smaller groups and discuss and record common controls, best practice and current challenges in relation to roads and benches.
Each group discussed and shared (with the wider group) the following topics:
- Road widths and inclines
- Bench widths
- One and two-way roads – management
- Sight and stopping distances
- Intersections, bends and curves
- Separation distances and centre berms
- Speed limits, haul roads, sales areas, entry and exit roads
Adam Murdock, All Stone Quarries (ASQ) presented on communication and administration including mobile phones, UHF channel, designated call-up points and clear signage.
Colleen Balfour, LSQ provided a presentation on traffic management and direct interaction, identifying areas when conducting a baseline assessment. Considerations included:
- Restricted areas
- Blind spots and sight lines
- Operational exclusion zones
- Pedestrian walkways
- Light vehicle parking
Brian Calovic, Conundrum Holdings provided a detailed presentation around incoming and outgoing traffic, outlining the objective of their Traffic Management Plan – managing heavy and light vehicles, mobile plant, and pedestrians to reduce vehicle interaction risks while maintaining efficient traffic flow across the site.
Kelvin Nicholson, Business Development Manager, SmartTech Australia emphasised the important role technology plays in managing traffic in quarries, particularly the use of AI to improve safety. Their solutions provide capability to detect people and vehicles inside and outside vehicles through cameras, images, videos and other smart technology.
The CMPA Traffic Management Guideline is available on the CMPA website.
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