Company ‘failed to provide safe workplace’ as truck runs over worker
Dandy Premix Concrete Pty Ltd is convicted and fined $120,000 after a worker was run over by a truck at its Pakenham plant in 2018, WorkSafe Victoria reports.
The concrete manufacturer was sentenced in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on May 10 after being found guilty on April 15 of failing to provide a safe workplace by failing to take reasonably practicable steps to eliminate the risk of powered mobile machines colliding with pedestrians.
The company was also ordered to pay costs of $13,850.
The court heard that on 20 July, 2018 workers were cleaning up spilled slurry as a truck was loading concrete, WorkSafe explains.
Once the truck was full, it pulled out, passing the two workers.
One of the workers tripped and fell under the truck’s rear wheels and his left arm was run over.
The worker suffered serious injuries, including amputation of his little finger and partial amputation of his ring and middle fingers.
He has required multiple surgeries and ongoing rehabilitation.
The court heard the company did not have a traffic management plan that identified hazards, including collisions between trucks and pedestrians while spilled slurry was being cleaned up, and that there were no risk control measures in place, such as exclusion zones or physical barriers to separate pedestrians from vehicles.
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“This worker is still living with the consequences of an incident that could have been avoided,” WorkSafe executive director of health and safety Julie Nielsen says.
“It is vital that employers have appropriate traffic management plans and risk control measures in place to keep vehicles and pedestrians at a safe distance.”
WorkSafe advises the following safety controls must be followed:
- A traffic management plan is in place for pedestrians and powered mobile plant and that it is reviewed and updated as appropriate.
- Pedestrians are separated from moving machinery and that an effective communication system between operators, transport contractors and ground staff is in place.
- Signage is in place and barriers are erected where appropriate.
- Visibility issues are identified and controlled, particularly if lighting is poor.
- Workers operating equipment have the appropriate high risk work licences, as required.
- Machinery and vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained by a suitably qualified person.