Develop A Worksite Traffic Management Plan
Workers Need to Separated From Powered Mobile Plant And Machinery
A worker has been crushed and retailer fined because no Worksite Traffic Management Plan was in place.
A major retailer has been fined $150,000 when a truck driver’s foot was crushed when by a mobile shipping container transport.
Spotlight Pty Ltd pleaded guilty in the Werribee Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to failing to ensure that the workplace and the means of entering and leaving it were safe.
The court heard that the incident occurred as the driver walked along a marked pedestrian area at the company’s distribution centre at Laverton North.
He was returning to his truck while a shipping container was being unloaded from it by a mobile straddle carrier.
As the carrier moved forward it struck the driver and its front wheel ran over his leg.
A Spotlight employee saw the driver was trapped and signalled to the carrier operator who reversed the transporter back over the driver’s leg.
His left knee was dislocated, ankle broken and foot crushed in the incident, which led to the amputation of a toe.
Traffic Management Training Could Have resulted in an effective Worksite Traffic Management Plan
Spotlight made a number of changes after the incident, including marking out designated loading zones, pedestrian exclusion zones, driver safety zones, and re-marking the pedestrian path.
The court heard the company also decommissioned the carrier and now employs a security officer at the entry point to the loading area to direct truck drivers when they arrive.
WorkSafe Feedback & Recommendations
WorkSafe said it was unacceptable to allow pedestrians and mobile plant to operate in a shared space without a Traffic Management Plan.
- Workers and pedestrians don’t mix well with mobile machinery
- These kind of incidents are occurring more frequently.
- Adequate separation between workers and mobile machinery must be mandatory in the workplace.
Employers using mobile plant should ensure:
- A traffic management plan is in place for pedestrians and powered mobile plant and that it is reviewed and updated as appropriate.
- Pedestrians are separated from moving machinery and that an effective communication system between operators, transport contactors and ground staff is in place.
- Signage is in place and barriers are erected where appropriate.
- Visibility issues are identified and controlled, particularly if lighting is poor.
- Workers operating equipment have the appropriate high risk work licences, as required.
- Machinery and vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained by a suitably qualified person.
Call COVE Training on (03) 8773 9000 to learn more about Traffic Management Courses and on-demand course delivery options. (RTO) No. 21386