In February 2020, a man was crushed to death while doing mechanical repairs on a truck. Initial enquires indicated he was under the truck when it inadvertently rolled forward and fell off a hydraulic bottle jack, fatally striking him.
One month later, a truck driver suffered serious leg injuries when trapped by his vehicle. Initial inquires indicated the man was next to his truck when it unexpectedly rolled forward and crushed him.

IMPORTANT: These findings are not yet confirmed, and investigations are continuing into the exact cause.

Preventing A Similar Incident

A number of Queensland workers have been seriously injured or killed because a vehicle hasn’t been effectively immobilised while work is being done underneath it. The risk of the vehicle moving in an uncontrolled or unexpected manner must be managed by ensuring appropriate controls are put in place.
The person conducting the business or undertaking (PCBU) must manage risks associated with immobilising vehicles. Effective Safe Work Method Statements SWMS starts with a commitment to health and safety from those who manage the business. Managing work health and safety risks is an ongoing process and involves four steps including identifying hazards, assessing risks, controlling risks, and reviewing control measures to ensure they are effective in your workplace. Suncoast Safety can write Safe Work Method Statement SWMS, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast & all other regions.
Once the risks have been assessed, the next step is to control risks associated with immobilising vehicles. These control measures are ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest and are known as the hierarchy of control. PCBUs must work through this hierarchy to choose the controls that most effectively eliminate or where that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks. PCBUs must first consider controls that most effectively eliminate the risk or where not reasonably practicable that minimise the risks.

You must always aim to eliminate a hazard causing the risk with something of lesser risk. If these controls are not reasonably practicable, you must minimise the risk by one or a combination of the following:

  • Engineering Controls – this involves changing physical characteristics of the plant or work area to remove or reduce the risks. Examples include:
    • Using components to support a vehicle, such as suitable load rated stands and lifting devices which should only be used and maintained according to the manufacturer’s specifications and instructions
    • Installing a handbrake warning system to alert drivers when the handbrake has not been applied
    • Chocking wheels on both sides of the vehicle using serviceable purpose built chocks
    • Using a flat even surface that can bear the general load of the vehicle and the point load of any equipment such as jacks or lifting equipment
  • Administrative Controls – if risk remains, it must be iminimsed by implementing administrative controls, so far as is reasonably practicable. For example:
    • Developing safe work procedures for:
      • Maintenance and repair tasks in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations
      • Conducting vehicle inspections
      • Use of stands, jacks, chocks or other systems for immobilising vehicles
      • A lock and tag out process to effectively immobilise vehicles
    • Providing workers with instructions, training and supervision on a safe work procedures
    • Ensuring worker training experience and competency aligns with the requirements and complexity of the task
    • Exclusion zones around vehicles (ensuring they are clearly marked and enforced)

The control measure you put in place should be reviewed regularly to ensure they are effective.

If you’re looking for a reliable, honest and professional safety consultant for your business, give us a call today on 0429990418 or (07)54932961

#suncoastsafety #safetyconsultant #riskmanagment#safetymanagementplan #environmentalsafetymanagementplan#siteinspection #toolboxtalks #safeworkmethodstatments #sunshinecoast #brisbane #goldcoast #ipswich #gympie #maryborough #bundaberg #centralqueensland#farnorthqueensland #duediligence

[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]