WINNING
Driving on well-maintained haul roads is key to preserve the condition of equipment and tyres.
higher tread wear, stress in tread and plies,
weakened bonding and increased heat
build-up. Proper inflation ensures maximum
ground contact area, optimum sidewall
flexibility and reduced heat levels of the tyre.
dump pit or load-out area can be a severe
tyre hazard and operators should try to
avoid making direct contact with it. When
backing up to a bumper block or crusher
also ensure that no spillage occurs in the
pocket. Backing over spilled material or
sitting on top of it when dumping a load
will place excessive stress on tyres.
Windrows are created by normal grader
road maintenance can cause sidewall flexing
Identifying further hazards
Washboard profiles on sections of a haul
road create a bouncing motion if the vehicle
operator is driving over it at high speed.
These conditions affect the sidewalls of the
truck's tyres. Too much bouncing may cause
tyres to momentarily leave the road surface,
amplifying sidewall flexing. Damage
from excessive flexing is not immediately
noticeable but is cumulative and can be
hard to spot in its initial stages. Excessive
speed during cornering has a similar effect.
Vehicle operators should avoid running
over any material that has spilled onto the
haul road with the best short-term cause
of action is to safely manoeuvre around
it until it can be safely removed. The edge
of a concrete bumper block at the mine's
18 _ QUARRY SA | MAY/JUNE 2018
The grade of a haul road is important because it affects where the load sits on the tyres.