The simulator, operated by the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE, fits into a shipping container and will be mounted on a specially constructed trailer to be transported around the state.
It includes wrap-around screens and functional controls that simulate the operations of trucks, scrapers, dozers, and excavators in a wide range of conditions and will allow trainees to gain experience using heavy equipment without the usual danger associated with learners in large mining machines.
Last year the Queensland Government introduced new regulations requiring heavy equipment operators to undergo refresher training every five years, however, because of the remoteness of many mines, on-site training was not always available or required machinery to be taken out of service to be used for training.
The mobile simulator will begin its first assignment soon at the Coppabella Mine west of Mackay.
