On-site traffic management – new guidance

On-site traffic management poses significant safety issues across all types of industries in Queensland. A range of vehicles and mobile plant have been involved in incidents that have seriously injured or killed workers:

• In June 2022, a skid steer loader was spreading gravel onto a residential driveway when it struck and killed a person who was close by. Investigations into the cause are continuing.
• In July 2022, a worker died after being hit by a moving water truck. The man was part of a crew working on a development road. Early investigations indicated he was struck when the water truck was reversing.
• In October 2022, a young worker was killed after being struck by the road roller he had been operating. For reasons yet to be established, it appears the young worker has hopped off the road roller and was then struck by it.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has updated its free industry resources to include a guide to managing traffic safely.

The Traffic management guidance plan and example template (PDF, 1.93 MB) has been designed to support environments with a high risk of workers or members of the public being impacted by mobile plant and traffic vehicles. This includes complex sites where unpredictable movements between trucks, mobile plant, cars, utes, forklifts and pedestrians often occur.

These risks should be managed systematically and holistically, using the highest level of control measures available. You can also download an onsite traffic management self-assessment tool (PDF, 0.36 MB) to assess your own risks.

Further information

Would you like more advice? You can contact one of our WHSQ advisors through the Injury Prevention and Management (IPaM) program.