Brakes, Brake Failure & Uncontrolled Rolling
SafeWork Australia conducted a study on work-related fatalities involving trucks between 2003 and 2012. SafeWork’s analysis revealed that 16% of workers killed in non-public road incidents involving trucks died because they or another worker failed to adequately brake a vehicle. In some instances, brake failure occurred.
Uncontrolled rolling of trucks, as well as other vehicles such as forklifts or utes, is a very real, but very preventable risk faced daily in the crane industry. Let’s take a look at a couple of incidents where this occurred.
Incidents
Gold Coast, 2008 Project
Casual Crane Hire
Cranes
20t Rough Terrain, Semi-trailer
The Outcome
• Severe injuries
Key Learning
• Designated area of truck parking should consider other workers nearby
• Always ensure brakes are engaged when starting the ignition
• Always ensure park brake is engaged before exiting the vehicle
A subcontractor working as a dogman for Gold Coast Cranes was seriously injured when he was crushed between a truck and a timber rack. A 20T Rough Terrain Crane was being packed up in preparation for road travel, and the dogman was assisting the crane operator in placing the crane timbers into the rear timber rack of the crane. At the time, there was a semi-trailer parked a short distance behind the crane, with the crane driver and dogman working in between the
crane and the semi-trailer. From a position outside the truck, the truck driver turned the ignition to start the truck. The brakes on the truck were not engaged, so the truck lunged forward when the engine started, pushing the dogman into the timber rack of the crane until the truck driver got into the semi-trailer cabin to turn the engine off. The dogman suffered numerous internal injuries, including multiple fractures.
LIFTING MATTERS
JUNE 2019
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