Truck Drivers should be aware of the accidents which don’t occur on the journey but happen before the journey even begins. Accidents on worksites are common and drivers should be aware of these dangers. This incident found on the Herald.com.au highlights the situation:

• WORKCOVER and Central Hunter detectives have launched investigations after a 37-year-old Aberdeen truck driver was killed in an industrial accident at Rutherford yesterday.
• Emergency services were called to J & S Engineering in Racecourse Road about 3.40pm after reports of a serious workplace accident.
• As information about the gruesome nature of the injuries was relayed from witnesses to a triple-0 operator, Central Hunter police made the decision to call off all but a handful of senior officers.
• When paramedics arrived they found the body of a truck driver who had been killed, police said.
• Police believe the man was loading drill rods onto his vehicle when one of the rods fell from a forklift and knocked him to the ground.
• The drill rod then fell on top of the man, killing him instantly.

Source: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/379772/man-killed-in-industrial-accident/ Loading and unloading materials, goods and products from trucks is a daily activity in many businesses. It is also a regular and frequent source of workplace fatalities. This type of activity need not be fatal, if workers follow their safety training and stick to WH&S regulations. Before loading all pedestrians should be clear of the load zone if they are not involved in the task especially during mechanized load or unloading using a forklift or crane etc. Truck drivers should identify hazards before loading or unloading the vehicle. It is crucial that the materials are loaded correctly, do not manually load goods that should be mechanically loaded, this is how the majority of truck drivers are injured during loading. All workers involved with a loading or unloading operation should assess the potential hazards before the operation begins. A clear understanding of the procedures and communication between workers must be established.Site specific knowledge is important and that is why site specific safety training is so vital even for new or temporary drivers and workers. Workers should never be downhill of any load being moved. Loads that are too heavy, instability, or equipment failure could cause a lift to move downhill and crush anyone below. Care should be taken by equipment operators and by all workers on-site to avoid locations that place them below a moving load. Even when loading the truck, it should not be parked on an incline, if possible try to park on a flat surface because an uneven surface or incline can cause the load to fall. These Safety Tips may Help:

• Always ensure loads on trucks, forklifts and cranes are properly secured
• Loaders & drivers must know and practice safe work practices as established by their site specific and general safety training
• Institute procedures to assure people are clear of trailers/wheels before moving especially if reversing
• Protect all gaps and drop-offs at loading docks
• Assure appropriate forklift equipment and training
• Never be downhill of a moving load
• Implement safer tarping equipment or procedures
• Use wheel chocks and other vehicle restraint devices to prevent the vehicle from rolling