‘Workplace transport’ refers to any vehicle or piece of mobile equipment, used in any work setting, apart from travelling on public roads.
Most transport-related accidents involve being:
- hit or run over by moving vehicles;
- falling from vehicles;
- struck by objects falling from vehicles (usually part of the load); or
- injured as a result of vehicles overturning.
The Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations require that all road surfaces are maintained in good order and that every workplace is organised in such a way that pedestrians and vehicles can circulate in a safe manner.
A workplace transport risk assessment should identify all work activities involving vehicles. Activities may include:
- arrival and departure;
- travel within the workplace;
- loading, unloading and securing loads;
- sheeting and unsheeting;
- coupling and uncoupling; and
- vehicle maintenance.
The assessment should consider hazards associated with the vehicle, the workplace, and people.
Vehicle
- Is it the correct vehicle for the job?
- Is it maintained in good working order?
Workplace
- Are the roadways maintained in good condition?
- Are there suitable and sufficient traffic routes?
- Is the need for reversing eliminated or minimised?
- Is there adequate space, lighting and signage?
People
- Are drivers competent
- Are drivers controlling the pace of work or are they under pressure to meet deadlines?
- Are other people segregated from workplace transport operations, either physically by barriers or by space or time?