do I need a mine whip flag?

If you are in a light vehicle (such as a Land Cruiser or Ute) and driving around a Mine site around heavy vehicles, then yes, you need a Mine Whip Flag.

What are Mine Whip Flags?

Mine Whip Flags (Vehicle safety flags/safety whips) are used to alert large vehicles to the presence of light or small vehicles (e.g. Landcruiser ute) when sharing zones. Mining whips prevent much damage and injury, reducing insurance claims and downtime.

What size Mine Whip Flag do I need?

To comply with most Australian mine site standards, the flag pole generally stands between 3.2mtrs to 4.2mtrs from the ground to the very top of the flag pole.

So knowing the height the safety flag has to reach, you must then work out where the flag will be mounted to achieve that. The two mounting points on any vehicle are the bull bar and the headboard/roof.
Because the bull bar is lower, flag pole lengths for this mounting tend to be longer. The most common lengths for this are 2.4, 2.5, and 3 metres.
With the headboard higher, the flag poles are smaller, with common lengths being 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, and 2 metres.

An exception to the 3.2mtr to 4.2mtr rule is underground mines.
This is due to the confined space, leaving flag poles to be very short – in most cases, no more than 60 or 90cm.
The longer flag poles are used only around open-cut and above-ground mine sites.‍

should I buy a fixed base, Spring or a quick release flag?

Good question!
Without knowing the conditions of the Mine site or your regularity to the Mine, we won’t be able to make a prediction as to what type of flag to get. Best to contact us to discuss your needs.

Light vehicles are at risk of being crushed by heavy vehicles. They should be kept away from areas where heavy vehicles operate. Where this is not practicable they should be fitted with rotating or flashing beacons, high visibility buggy whips or flagged aerials, high visibility and reflective markings and other appropriate measures. This makes them readily visible to drivers of other vehicles.

The use of vehicle hazard lights alone is not deemed adequate and should be discouraged as being the only warning provided. For light vehicles expected to enter areas where heavy vehicles are operating, consider the following controls during your risk assessment:

• Establish exclusion zones around heavy vehicles.
• Heavy vehicles are to remain stationary when light vehicles are within exclusion zones.
• The impact of environmental conditions on visibility (e.g. darkness, fog or rain).
• Fit vehicles with rotating or flashing orange warning lights, visible 360 degrees from the vehicle, unless multiple lights are fitted to cover blind spots.
• Fit vehicles with reflective strips.
• Fit radios so drivers can communicate with each other, site supervisors and directly to heavy vehicle drivers.
• Fit a warning flag (buggy whip) that can be seen by the operator of the tallest vehicle.
• Fit clearly visible numbering, or an alternative form of positive identification, as an aid for identifying who you are during two-way communication between vehicle drivers.

Light vehicle visibility controls should apply to all light vehicles, including contractors and visiting drivers (where they are required to enter operational areas). Any permanently fitted lights, retro-reflectors or retro-reflective material must comply with the NSW Road Rules 2014 and the Australian Design Rules when being driven on public roads.

CLICK HERE to read more.