Workplace fatality: dozer safety
The following story contains language and references which some readers may find distressing and the content is confronting and may be triggering.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) released a safety alert earlier this year about the safe operation of dozers to minimise the risk of injury or death from dozer rollovers and highlights risk control measures that should be applied to prevent incidents when dozers are used in stockpile applications (e.g. to spread materials).
The information contained in the alert is relevant to employers, dozer operators, dozer manufacturers and dozer suppliers.
In early 2026, a plant operator was fatally injured when the dozer he was operating, rolled at a bulk material storage facility. Initial investigations indicate he was operating the dozer on a stockpile when the dozer rolled over down the side of the stockpile. During the rollover the operator was ejected from the dozer's cabin, sustaining fatal injuries. Investigations into the cause of this incident are continuing.
In addition to this incident, there is a continuing pattern of dozer rollover and loss of control incidents across Queensland mine and quarry operations, including repeat scenarios involving reversing, cross grade work and operation near unprotected edges.
Dozers can roll for a number of reasons, and they are often operated in environments where there is a higher risk of rollover.
More information
Read the full Safety Alert - Stockpile dozer rollover fatal incident.