There have been several recent incidents where heavy vehicles and trailers fatally crushed workers, and the dark trend has prompted new warnings.

The Queensland Government says it needs to highlight the risks associated with heavy vehicles or trailers, as in many fatal cases it has been revealed that the vehicle was not correctly immobilised.

The new safety alert lists some other factors that contribute to such incidents, including;

  • workers being under a heavy vehicle or trailer, or in its path
  • unsafe systems of work being applied, such as poor separation of traffic from pedestrian areas
  • failing to immobilise:
  • handbrake of the vehicle not being applied
  • the wheels of the heavy vehicle or trailer not immobilised (e.g. chocked)
  • components of the heavy vehicle or trailer not restrained or adequately supported
  • brakes malfunctioning
  • not conducting a risk assessment before working on the vehicle.

The safety bulletin contains a reminder of the protocols and best practice when working around heavy vehicles and trailers.