Worker struck by a track skid steer (26 July 2021)
An Incident Information Release detailing an incident where a worker was struck by a reversing bobcat while surveying levels as part of a road construction.
A 45-year-old worker was struck by a reversing track skid steer while surveying levels as part of a road construction in the Southern Highlands. The worker sustained significant crush injuries.
Incident site - southbound
Safety information
Consider reasonably practicable control measures to manage the risks of mobile plant in the workplace. You must implement effective systems to prevent mobile plant striking workers. These systems can include:
- Workplace specific induction for all workers before work starts
- Mobile plant operation area exclusion zones (eg: the use of fences, bollards, barriers, safety rails, etc to separate pedestrians from moving plant and vehicles)
- Sequencing work to minimise the number of trades and labourers on foot when heavy vehicles are operational
- Dedicated turning bays, to allow heavy mobile plant to maintain operator visibility by moving forward
- Dedicated footpaths (plant exclusion) for workers on foot
- The use of spotters where heavy mobile plant is required to reverse (or operate in the direction of less visibility)
- The use of formal and trained traffic controllers where required
- Establishing and maintaining communication systems e.g. radios to notify plant operators of persons approaching work area
- Using audible and visible alarms to identify moving plant (e.g. reversing alarm, flashing lights)
- The use of proximity sensing devices
- Using high visibility garments to increase a person’s visibility
- Training workers in relation to blind spots for certain vehicles, such as the blind spot created by the arm of an excavator
More information
- Working with or around mobile plant safety – SafeWork NSW
- Workplace traffic management guidance material - SafeWork Australia
- Mobile plant - SafeWork SA
- Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace (PDF 1.5MB) – SafeWork NSW