Following a recent incident where a young worker sustained significant crush injuries to the lower leg while trapped between a vehicle and its trailer, Queensland WorkSafe is reminding operators that ill-managed site traffic can be a significant safety issue. 

The body has issued the warning to increase awareness, as investigations into the incident continue. 

Most sites have a wide range of vehicles, including trailers and mobile plant, that can result in serious injuries.

Typical hazards can include: 

• traffic movements of mobile plant and vehicles – mobile plant and vehicles moving in and around a workplace (reversing, loading, and unloading) are a potential danger for workers and members of the public 

• the environment in which the mobile plant and vehicles are used, and 

• the plant itself. 

• Operators of vehicles and mobile plant can often have severely restricted visibility of ground workers or nearby pedestrians, particularly those close by. 

The QLD WorkSafe website outlines that “persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must control all risks associated with vehicles (including trailers) and mobile plant, including the risk of workers and others being struck by moving vehicles.” 

Regarding site management of trailer activity, it advises that:  

• Workers should avoid walking between mobile plant and nearby fixed objects or other vehicles and trailers, including slopes. 

• Trailers are not to be moved unless both the towing hitch and the safety chains (or secondary locking system) are attached. Trailers can unexpectedly detach from tow hitches. It is recommended that safety chains or a secondary locking system is used to prevent uncontrolled movement. 

• Unhitched trailers are prevented from unexpected movement by their brakes or chocks. Some unhitched trailers have no brakes and can take off with no warning on sloping ground.