Safe Work Australia targets vehicle roll-aways and immobilisation

Safe Work Australia are targeting vehicle roll-aways on Australian worksites after a spate of work-related fatalities and injuries sparked concerns.  

The national safety regulator has updated its ‘Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace’ to include information on vehicle roll-aways and safe immobilisation.  

Statistics from the regulator show that machinery operators and drivers were among the highest represented group wuthin the fatalities for the year. Additionally, according to the regulator, mobile plant and transportation was a common cause of these fatalities in its industry breakdown.  

A vehicle rollaway is defined by Safe Work Australia as the “unintentional movement of a vehicle because it has not been properly immobilised”. This includes when vehicle brakes are not adequately applied or engaged during repairs, loading and unloading, or when coupling or uncoupling a truck and trailer.  

The updated code of practice also reiterates the importance of the role a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) is in these situations. By definition, a PCBU includes those with management or control of the plant, designers, manufacturers, importers, suppliers, and installers of plant, officers, and workers in maintaining the necessary safety precautions. 

The updated ‘Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace’ can be read here.