Safety dot-point Sunday No. 16

Why 'how to lift' training is ineffective for Manual Handling.

Do your workers perform tasks that require them to lift, lower, push, pull, carry, move, hold or restrain something?

Does your workplace safety Induction or Toolbox talk material include guidance such as ‘bend your knees, keep your back straight’ as a manual handling control?

Do your workers refer to ‘safe manual handling techniques’ (meaning the above), when highlighting how they will go about safe manual handling?

Then you should probably take a look at this SafeWork SA LINK

Parked Vehicle (not made fundamentally stable) ends up in Mine Site Canal.

A parked utility vehicle ended up in a canal after it started to roll backwards from what the driver believed to be flat ground at the top of a steep slope.

Once the operator got out of the vehicle, it started to roll backwards down the ramp. The driver initially tried to get back into the vehicle, but realised he couldn’t do so safely and moved out of the way. The vehicle rolled backwards about 25 metres, crashing through a 1.2m high bund and ending up in a canal.

Fortunately, nobody else was on the ramp or the access road when the vehicle rolled backwards and there were no injuries. However, the outcome could have been more serious if other vehicles or pedestrians had been present at the time.

This incident highlights the importance of testing and verification of the systems used to ensure vehicles are made fundamentally stable when parked up, especially on Steep Roads or accessways. WorkSafe TAS LINK

Worker killed in EWP incident.

In a recent incident, a worker suffered fatal crush injuries while operating an EWP. It is believed the worker became trapped between the top rail of the EWP basket and a panelled bulkhead above.

Unfortunately, there have been many similar fatal incidents where operators have been trapped or crushed between the basket and overhead obstructions. When we think of Stuff that Can Kill You or 'STCKY' in relation to Work at Heights, we often think of a fall from height, but this is very STCKY and can be avoided.

The most common EWP incidents happen when reversing, slewing or elevating near an obstruction. This incident occurred on a scissor lift fitted with controls below the top rail of the platform. WorkSafe QLD LINK