Businesses and workers must keep safety in the front of everyone’s minds, Workcover NSW said today, after research showed that more than 40 people had received crush injuries while working with moving large machinery or heavy vehicles.
WorkCover analysis shows that from August 2012 to August 2013, there had been 46 incidents where people had received crush injuries while working near or in large machinery or heavy vehicles.
WorkCover NSW general manager of work health and safety division John Watson said these figures show moving heavy machinery or heavy vehicles can be dangerous and can result in serious injury and even death.
“Earlier this year a six-year-old boy was run over when his father was reversing a forklift truck at the rear of the workplace. The boy sustained serious crush injuries to his abdomen and underwent surgery in hospital,” Watson said.
In this example everyone lived, however sadly that’s not always the case.
Watson urged businesses to take the proper precautions.
“Almost every workplace has some form of plant or equipment and there are many associated hazards, including entanglement or crushing, cuts or punctures, being struck by moving objects, electrical or explosive hazards, slips, trips and falls, and manual handling,” Watson said.
“NSW businesses must provide information, training and supervision to workers and ensure plant and equipment is without risk to the health and safety of workers by ensuring it is installed correctly, operated by a competent person, not interfered with and that control measures are in place.
“We believe crush injuries and fatalities involving moving large machinery and heavy vehicles can be reduced if attention is paid to the control of the risks associated with working with and on such equipment.”
