Recall... News from
Work-Place Safety & Health Council
1 Dec 2010, Ref: 1011078
WSH Alert – Worker Fell from Lorry Loader (Lorry Crane)
Incident
A worker passed away in hospital from injuries sustained in a fall from a
lorry loader (lorry crane) while stacking water barriers on the lorry bed.
After arranging one tier of water barriers, the worker reportedly stood on top
of the water barriers and continued with the stacking of a second tier of
water barriers on top of the first. The top of each barrier measured 0.13m
wide, and with the water barriers unsecured and unstable, the worker would not
have had a firm footing. He was believed to have slipped, fell and landed
about 2.15m below on the road, striking his head against a road kerb.
Fig. 1 Photograph showing re-enactment of the accident
Recommendations*
1. Conduct risk assessment: Conduct a risk assessment to
identify all hazards and the risks involved before starting any work. Control
measures and safe work procedures must be established and implemented. In this
incident, the hazard of falling from height could be identified, and
appropriate control measures implemented to mitigate the associated risks.
2. Ensure safe work methods: In this case, standing on
unsecured and unstable materials is not a good practice. To avoid the need to
work at height, bundling the water barriers at the ground level before loading
unto the lorry would have been better (see Fig 2). Alternatively, having the
water barriers loaded unto purpose designed racks could be considered (see Fig
3).
Absolute Safety and engineering
