Fatality at shipping container facility (21 April 2022)

A 52-year-old truck driver was fatally injured at a shipping container facility at Banksmeadow. The worker was a visiting driver to the site and was struck by a reversing reach stacker while walking towards the office area.

A yellow reach stacker near a shipping container
The reach stacker involved in the incident.

Safety information

This is the second fatality in NSW within the same week involving a worker struck by mobile plant.
Mobile plant, such as forklifts, elevating work platforms, delivery vehicles, order pickers, earth moving equipment, prime movers and cranes, have the potential to seriously injure or kill people.
Consider ‘reasonably practicable’ control measures to manage the risks associated with mobile plant.

Businesses should:

  • keep people and vehicles apart by having clearly defined pedestrian-only spaces and vehicle-only spaces
  • implement fixed and secured barriers to prevent people from accessing vehicle-only areas
  • implement alternative controls if it is not reasonably practical to separate people and vehicles using fixed and secured barriers, including:
    • bollards that prevent vehicles from accessing pedestrian-only areas
    • temporary barriers
    • visual indicators that clearly define pedestrian-only areas
    • warning devices like reversing sensors, reversing cameras, mirrors, rotating lights, or audible reversing alarms
    • lighting in pedestrian access areas.
  • develop a traffic management plan for the site which covers controls and procedures
  • inform, train, and instruct workers on the traffic management plan and ensure it is being followed
  • ensure workers are wearing high-visibility clothing and using other appropriate personal protective equipment.

Operators should:

  • carry out a daily check of the plant before use, and report any faults and damage
  • always follow the site safety rules, traffic management plans and safety instructions
  • wear high-visibility clothing and other appropriate protective equipment
  • before moving the plant, look in all directions for people and be aware of exclusion zones and pedestrian walkways
  • remove potential distractions such as mobile phones, portable speakers and ear pods.

Related information

Download this Incident Information Release as a PDF (PDF, 244.21 KB)

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