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FIND KNOX | JANUARY 2022
www.findknox.com.au
Pedestrians and Forklifts Don’t Mix. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY By Mark Felton
Tragically, two workers have recently died in Victoria in separate forklift incidents. A 25-year-old worker was killed when standing near a forklift being driven on a sloping driveway. The forklift tipped over, crushing the worker. In a second forklift incident a 49-year-old worker was fatally injured when a large unstable load fell off the fork arms (tines) onto him. Pedestrians make up almost half of all people injured by forklifts. The most common forklift-related injury sustained by pedestrians is crushing. Pedestrians have also lost their lives or sustained traumatic injury when walking across forklift travel paths, doorways or from behind palletised goods or being hit by objects falling: • • •
during the loading and unloading of trucks from an unstable load handled by a forklift from forklifts carrying long, awkward shaped and unbalanced loads
Forklifts are a hazard and, where reasonably practicable, should be
eliminated from the workplace, or substituted with other suitable load shifting equipment. If this is not reasonably practicable, the risks associated with using forklifts must be reduced, using engineering or administrative controls, such as traffic management plans (TMPs). TMPs are the key to separating forklifts from pedestrians, including truck drivers. An effective TMP can include a range of controls, including: • • • •
pedestrian and zones reduced speed (smart forklifts) halos signage
forklift limiting
exclusion devices
Everyone at the workplace, including visitors, must be advised of the site's TMP. Once risk controls are in place they must be regularly reviewed, especially when an incident occurs or there is a change in work practices, and revised where necessary in line with regulation 121 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations). Pedestrian and forklift exclusion zones can incorporate: • •
safety zones for truck drivers fixed safety barriers
• inward opening gates at pedestrian crossings • containment fences • clearly marked aisle ways, travel paths and pedestrian crossings If separation by fixed barriers is not reasonably practicable, ensure pedestrians stay outside the advised three metre exclusion zone and do not interact with the load during forklift operations. Do you or someone you know need help in understanding and Identifying hazards associated with forklift use, and developing control measures? I can assist by reviewing the current situation and systems, highlighting any shortcomings. I can then assist in the development and implementation of effective measures to reduce risk. Please feel free to contact Mark Felton at Beaumont Advisory on 0411 951 372 or mfelton@beaumontlawyers.com. au for an obligation and cost-free initial discussion.
