Audits to target pedestrian safety for vehicles and mobile

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland will audit high risk workplaces where unpredictable movements between trucks, mobile plant, cars, utes, forklifts and pedestrians occur.

WorkSafe Queensland inspectors will visit workplaces in early 2020 to look at how risks are managed. Workers will be questioned on whether safety measures are effectively implemented.

Mobile plant operators will have their high-risk work licences inspected and there will be checks on whether mobile plant is properly maintained. Inspectors will want to see how workers are informed, what kind of communication the person in control has with others on-site and what information is provided to external organisations which have vehicles or staff visit the site.

Are safety measures effective?

Inspectors will also look at what is in place to eliminate or reduce the risk of pedestrians being hit, and whether the measures are effective. For example, does the site have or use:

• barriers physically separating pedestrian routes, such as separate entries and exits for vehicles;
• dedicated areas for loading and unloading away from people;
• physical isolation or separation by distance and/or guardrails or fences;
• wide traffic routes so vehicles or plant do not encroach on pedestrian areas;
• barriers, fences or exclusion zones isolating workers or pedestrians from roads;
• administrative controls, such as speed limits, driver directions (stop, give way, no entry, caution).

To prepare for an inspector’s visit, download the Onsite traffic management self- assessment tool to assess your risks.

For more information visit: Workplace Health and Safety Queensland www.worksafe.qld.gov.au

CoR Awareness Course for all industries

It is important operational and administrative staff are aware of Chain of Responsibility laws and their responsibilities around the transportation of hired plant and equipment.

The HRIA’s updated Chain of Responsibility Online Awareness Course designed for each of the different roles within the Chain of Responsibility will help teams understand and meet HVNL CoR legislative requirements.

To enrol and access the HRIA Chain of Responsibility Online Awareness Course visit: hria.learnupon.com/store