New report shows more than 780 workers were killed in truck-related accidents between 2003 and 2012.
Safe Work Australia is pushing for more work to be done to improve safety in the trucking industry following the release of a report detailing the number of truck-related fatalities.
The Work-related fatalities involving trucks, Australia 2003 to 2012 report, released today, found that 787 workers were killed in truck-related incidents over the 10-year period.
The deaths included drivers of trucks killed in vehicle crashes and people who were working on or around a truck at the time of the incident.
Safe Work Australia says around 50 truck drivers are killed each year, with 28 other workers killed in incidents involving trucks.
Describing the statistics as alarming, Safe Work Australia chair Ann Sherry says more needs to be done to ensure the safety of workers and reduce the number of deaths.
“Around 80 workers are killed each year while working in or around a truck,” she says.
“Not only is this figure disturbing in itself, but 39 per cent of these people die in single vehicle truck crashes.
“While the data showed that driving too fast for the conditions caused some of the fatalities, for many the cause of the crash was unknown. However, it is likely that fatigue and lack of concentration played some part in these deaths.”
The report outlines a number of measures Safe Work Australia believes will improve safety, including focusing on reducing driver fatigue and using appropriate speed for the conditions, ensuring vehicles are maintained properly and that loads are secured.
The report also emphasises the need to increase the awareness of pedestrian workers and members of the public and improving protection from falls for those working at heights.
“By targeting these areas we can improve the working environment for truck drivers, people who work in the vicinity of trucks and the general public,” Sherry says.
The report shows a number of initiatives to improve safety are underway through state-based government agencies and the National Transport Commission (NTC).
Along with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), the NTC is identifying ways to improve heavy vehicle roadworthiness.
The NTC is also finalising a review of heavy vehicle compliance and enforcement and is aiming to improve safety through the promotion of telematics.
SafeWork SA is currently auditing South Australian transport operators to determine compliance with fall prevention requirements.
Meawhile, the Victorian WorkCover Authority is conducting joint roadside inspections covering vehicle maintenance, working at heights, manual handling, load binding and dangerous goods.
According to Safe Work Australia’s report, loading or unloading a vehicle accounted for 15 per cent of fatalities, while repair and maintenance was 7 per cent.
The transport, postal and warehousing sector accounted for half of the total number of deaths between 2003 and 2012.
In addition to the workers killed, Safe Work Australia says 298 members of the public died in truck-related incidents between 2003 and 2012.
“The majority of the bystander fatalities involved a person in a car being killed when hit by a truck (135 fatalities). The next biggest group were pedestrians who were hit by a truck (49 fatalities),” Safe Work Australia says.