Ensuring Vehicle Immobilization Safety Campaign
Incidents of vehicles rolling away pose significant dangers to both workers and the public and unfortunately persist across various industry sectors.
In 2023, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) is spearheading a statewide campaign in Queensland to evaluate the risks associated with unintentional vehicle and bus movements, aiming to prevent fatalities, serious injuries, and property damage.
Campaign Objectives:
- Increase awareness of roll-away risks and effective controls through industry education and awareness initiatives.
- During the enforcement phase, inspectors will conduct site visits across diverse industries to assess compliance.
Key Focus Areas:
- Transport operators (buses and trucks) and high-risk workplaces where these vehicles frequent.
- Establishing safe systems of work for vehicles entering and exiting sites.
- Implementing safe systems of work for workers entering and exiting vehicles during their duties.
- Providing adequate worker training, information, supervision, and instruction to manage immobilization risks.
- Ensuring proper vehicle maintenance.
- Use and maintenance of brake alarms and automatic braking systems where applicable.
- Establishing consultative and contractual arrangements between businesses to address and manage vehicle immobilization risks.
Campaign Message:
Vehicles used for work are considered workplaces under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, necessitating the adoption and implementation of safe systems of work, similar to standard workplace settings.
The campaign emphasizes that managing immobilization risks goes beyond relying solely on workers applying handbrakes. It should be approached systematically and holistically, employing the highest level of control measures available. Additional details and innovative solutions are welcomed at IndustryStrategy@oir.qld.gov.au.
Resources for All Vehicles:
- Managing risks of plant in the workplace code of practice 2021 (PDF, 1.57 MB)
- Safe immobilising of vehicles self-assessment checklist (PDF, 1.05 MB).
Heavy vehicle resources:
- Safely immobilising heavy vehicles and trailers campaign report (PDF, 0.37 MB)
- Safely immobilising heavy vehicles and trailers checklist (PDF, 0.46 MB)
- Short film – Coupling and de-coupling trailers safely
- Short film – Safe systems to immobilise heavy vehicles and trailers
- Vehicle loading cranes self-assessment tool (PDF, 0.25 MB)
- Webinar – Safely immobilising heavy vehicles and trailers