A woman has undergone surgery in the Cairns Base Hospital in far north Queensland after being crushed by a truck in Port Douglas yesterday.
Sergeant Damien Meadows says the incident happened at the Port Village shopping centre as a delivery truck was reversing into a loading bay.
He says the woman, 54, had been helping the driver when she became pinned from the abdomen down.
Sergeant Meadows says she is in a serious but stable condition.
"The truck's been seized by police for a mechanical and workplace health and safety wish to have a look at the vehicle as well as Queensland Transport," he said.
"It'll undergo a mechanical inspection to see if it's currently compliant.
"Police also want to speak to the driver a bit further in relation to it as well - he was breath-tested."
Reported by ABC News
Moderator Comments:
How are your controls around HME (Heavy Mobile Equipment)? This accident is a timely reminder to ensure that you have detailed risk assessment and SWP (Safe Work Procedures) around activities that involve interaction between pedestrians and heavy vehicles.
Example of some considerations / controls:
1) Safe parking (ie: fundamentally stable equipment - park brakes / potential for rollaway / runaway)
2) Vehicles left running whilst unattended - not allowed
3) Pedestrian restrictions (barricading / signage) into Heavy vehicle loading areas
4) Competency of operators of HME & persons working around same
5) High visibility clothing or vests (A MUST HAVE!)
6) Spotters and communication methods between the HME operator and the spotter (radio / hand signals)
7) Reversing alarms, reversing cameras
8) Protective bollards or bunds / wheel stops (eg: concrete barriers) to protect pedestrians
Remember - better a small amount of equipment damage from a truck impacting with a protective bollard or barrier than a person being crushed. Consider stong engineering controls to prevent incidents.
Regards
EasyOHS Advisory Team
