grief support service · driver fatigue • consult with your employees and develop ways to help...

Grief Support ServiceThe Partnerships in Grieving Program (PIGP) and the Industrial Deaths Support and Advocacy Inc. (IDSA),

with support of WorkSafe Victoria, offer grief support services for family members who have experienced

a workplace death.

Please call:

Partnerships in Grieving Program Industrial Deaths Support and Advocacy Inc.

(B/H) 03 9827 8322 (B/H) 03 9309 4453

(A/H) 0409 788 883 Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

WorkSafe Victoria Regional Offices: WorkSafe Victoria Head Office:

Ballarat 5337 1400 Level 24, 222 Exhibition Street

Bendigo 5443 8866 Melbourne, VIC 3000.

Dandenong 8792 9000 Tel: 96411555 Fax: 96411222

Geelong 5226 1200 www.workcover.vic.gov.au

Melbourne 9628 8115 Email: [email protected]

Mildura 5021 4001

Mulgrave 9565 9444

Preston 9485 4555

Shepparton 5831 8260

Traralgon 5173 8900

Wangaratta 5721 8588

Warrnambool 5562 5600

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No-one should dieat work.

18363_SF60P_Work Transport 17/1/02 1:38 PM Page 1

“We were working nightshift unloading

containers. I called out to Jimmy but he

didn’t answer. Then I saw his body

crumpled in the loading bay. I just felt

sick in the guts. I’ve never seen a dead

body before. He was just 6 weeks away

from taking a package.”


Why should I read it?

In Victoria, a worker dies on average every

week. The impact is felt by everyone around

them. Families, loved ones, work colleagues,

employers and mates. The reality is that

almost every one of these deaths could have

been prevented if proper safety procedures

like those outlined in this book were followed.

No-one should die at work.

Who should read it?

If you’re in the transport industry you

should read this book. As you read it, take

a walk around your workplace to look for

potential hazards. Then find ways to fix the

problem in the short term while you work

on long term solutions.

About WorkSafe Victoria

Our primary aim is to prevent accidents

by offering practical information and advice

to help you manage your occupational health

and safety (OHS) requirements. Small

businesses can take advantage of a free,

3 hour consultation with an independent

OHS professional.

For more information

Call,1800 136 089 or visit our website:

www.workcover.vic.gov.au for industry

regulatory requirements.

About this booklet


Cause: Vehicle accidents

DRIVER FATIGUE • Consult with your employees and develop ways to help them understand and avoid the risk of fatigue while driving.

• Ensure drivers are given at least 24 hours notice to prepare for long working/driving periods e.g. 12 hours.

• Where practicable, avoid schedules that require driving at times the driver would normally be asleep e.g. 11pm to 6am.

• Drivers need to have at least 6 hours continuous sleep in any 24 hour period, preferably between the hours of 10pm and 8am.

• Operate flexible schedules to allow for short rest breaks or discretionary sleep on long journeys. (Driver alertness is enhanced by a short break for every 2 hours of driving time.)

• Monitor driving schedules and itineraries to ensure that employees take care for their safety while away from base.

SPEED • Consult with your employees and develop a "Safe Driving Policy" that defines expectations of driver behaviour while driving company vehicles or on company business in other vehicles.

• Ensure that work schedules do not encourage speeding or other unsafe driver behaviour.

Problem: Solution:


GENERAL • Consult with your employees and develop a "Vehicle Purchase Policy" to assist in deciding the safest vehicle type and accessories for the task. (Note: Experience of such policies indicates reduced vehicle accidents can be achieved.)

• Ensure that vehicles are properly maintained and in a roadworthy condition at all times.

• Instruct drivers that seat belts are to be worn while driving.• Minimise distractions such as the use of mobile phones, radios etc while

driving in difficult traffic conditions. (Note: hand held mobile phonesshould not be used at all while driving.)

WORKPLACE TRAFFIC • Develop, in consultation with employees, a management plan for all traffic movement in the workplace – use employee knowledge of problem areas and "near miss" incidents to comprehensively manage risks.

• Ensure roadways are clearly defined and constructed to allow safe vehicle movements.

• Ensure that vulnerable equipment and pits or other hazards that are close to roadways are protected by barriers.

Problem: Solution:


WORKPLACE TRAFFIC • Provide a site plan sign indicating roadways and traffic flow arrangements.• Install signs and apply speed limits to control vehicle movements.• Provide separate, clearly marked pedestrian walkways, protected by distance and/or

physical barriers from vehicular traffic.• Where pedestrian traffic and vehicular traffic cross, provide crossing controls e.g. stop signs,

pedestrian crossing markings and lights. Ensure that "right of way" systems are consistent and understood by pedestrians and drivers.

• Place guardrails where buildings or walkways open directly onto a vehicular roadway to ensure that pedestrians must first turn parallel to the roadway and can be seen by drivers.

• Where practicable avoid the need for vehicles to reverse – ensure that warning devices and trained "spotters" are used where vehicles must reverse or manoeuvre in a confined area or in the vicinity of pedestrians.

• Ensure that all drivers, particularly those unfamiliar with the workplace, are instructed in and understand the traffic rules at the workplace.

• Ensure that ground surfaces at dumping areas for bulk products in tip trucks are firm, stable and level.

• Ensure that high visibility clothing is worn by persons working in the vicinity of roadways.

Problem: Solution:


Cause:Struck by/crushed by forklift or truck

LOADING / • Where direct supervision of loading is necessary provide a "safety zone"UNLOADING TRUCKS protected by bollards at a safe distance from operating forklifts and within

clear view of the forklift driver.• Define a pedestrian exclusion zone around truck loading operations – use

bollards/line markings to exclude all persons from the area where forkliftsare moving or goods may fall from the forklift or vehicle being loaded.

• Ensure forklift movements are stopped if the load needs to be inspected or tied down by the truck driver.

• Ensure the forklift operator understands that loading or unloading activitymust stop if all persons involved cannot be seen to be in a safe place.

• Ensure goods are securely palletised or bundled and stabilised so that the forklift can place the load without assistance.

Problem: Solution:


Problem: Solution:

WAREHOUSING • Ensure that forklift traffic and pedestrians are separated by distance and /or physical barriers.• Clearly mark pedestrian walkways and forklift traffic areas.• Avoid blind corners wherever possible – fit mirrors, stop signs and provide bollards

to protect pedestrians where required.• Ensure good lighting in the area and that pedestrians wear high visibility clothing.• Control forklift speed.• Ensure warning devices on the forklift are operational and used where appropriate.• Ensure aisles are wide enough to manoeuvre forklifts safely.• Ensure floors are firm, level and free of defects.

GENERAL • Ensure forklift drivers hold a certificate of competency and that they have been trained and are proficient in the tasks to be performed.

• Ensure that forklifts are only used to lift pallets or goods designed to be engaged on the fork-arms – use manufacturer approved fork-arm attachments for other loads.

• Do not use forklifts to raise and support machinery while maintenance work is carried out.• Ensure that seat belts or driver restraints are worn to prevent the driver being thrown

out of the protective cab in the event of a roll-over.• Ensure systematic maintenance is performed, especially brakes, parking brake and inspection

of fork-arms for cracking and wear.


Cause: Crushed by moving objectsProblem: Solution:

VEHICLE • Ensure that vehicle hoists are maintained to manufacturer’s specifications.MAINTENANCE HOISTS • Ensure that a competent person regularly inspects vehicle hoists – major inspection

is required at least annually – refer Australian Standard AS 2550.9.• Maintain records of inspection and maintenance work performed on the vehicle

hoist and make these records available to people using the hoist.• Make sure that employees have been appropriately trained and understand

the correct use of the hoist.• Ensure that safety locks/props are engaged before working under a raised vehicle.• Ensure that the safe working load of the hoist is clearly displayed and not

exceeded when raising heavier vehicles e.g. large 4WD vehicles.• Ensure that the vehicle is effectively secured and chocked against

movement before raising it.

JACKS • NEVER get under a vehicle or heavy load supported only by a jack – use proper axle stands and/or heavy-duty bearers under the load.

• Chock any wheels remaining in contact with the ground and apply parking brakes wherever practicable.

• Ensure the vehicle/load is stable and chocked against movement.• NEVER crank or start a vehicle engine while the drive

wheels are in contact with the ground and any person is beneath the vehicle – do not rely on selecting "neutral" gear or wheel chocks, brakes etc to prevent movement of the vehicle.

• Ensure that jacks are well maintained and that the safe working load is clearly displayed.


HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENT • Ensure that tipper truck bodies are safely propped against falling before working on the chassis area beneath.

• Specify integral ram blocking devices or safety props when purchasing tipper trucks – have properlydesigned safety props fitted to existing vehicles.

• Inspect tipper truck tip-limiter cables to see that they are shrouded to protect against accidental activation.

• Ensure that all heavy parts of hydraulic machinery e.g. forklift carriage, loader buckets etc are loweredto the ground or safely supported before conducting maintenance work on hydraulics components.

• Replace hydraulic hoses with manufacturer approved components – do not attempt hose repairswithout specialist equipment and knowledge – hose failures can kill.

• Do not attempt repairs on hydraulic powered equipment without lockout procedure – lock out powersupply, release all system pressure, block rams and components against movement, tag out equipment.

STORING GOODS • Ensure heavy objects e.g. steel sheets, tractor wheels, are laid flat or stored in properly designed racking.

• Ensure that racking is properly designed and manufactured to support the goods stored.• Ensure that supervisory staff and employees understand safe loading procedures

for the racking to avoid overloading or instability.• Ensure that goods stored at height are secured against accidental dislodgment

– restrain cartons on pallets, ensure cartons are not damaged, no loose equipment etc on pallets.

• Provide good lighting and high visibility colours on racking supports to minimise damage by forklifts etc.

Problem: Solution:


Cause: Falls from heightsProblem: Solution:

TRUCK LOADING/ • Wherever practicable modify equipment to avoid the need to climb or work at height.UNLOADING • Ensure that equipment to spread and secure tarpaulins without climbing on the

load is available where goods are loaded or unloaded.• Provide guardrails to protect drivers who have to move about on the top

of tankers, car carriers or livestock carriers.• Ensure that loading gantries and elevated walkways are enclosed with effective

guardrails/fencing.• Ensure that access ladders to silos etc provide a safe means of access e.g. caging.

ELEVATED WORK AREAS • Ensure that all elevated work areas e.g. mezzanine floors, are enclosed with guardrails or fencing around the edges and that safe stairway access is provided – refer Australian Standard AS 1657.

• Ensure that pits and trenches etc are covered or provided with guardrails.• Do not permit raising people on the fork arms of a forklift unless they

are inside a properly constructed and attached work box – refer Australian Standard AS 2359.1.

• Ensure that operators of order picking forklifts wear an approved and properly maintained fall arrest harness at all times.


grief support service · driver fatigue • consult with your employees and develop ways to help...

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