WorkSafe WA has issued a rural safety alert over the rate of accidental deaths in the past 10 months in the agricultural industry. The alert was issued after a truck driver was killed when the truck he was attempting to enter rolled down hill. The number of deaths particularly in the agricultural sector is high but truck drivers should also be aware of this type of injury which could affect truckies from any sector. According to WorkSafe’s Commissioner the key to overcoming these tragedies is to pay better attention to safety and avoid attempting dangerous acts such as jumping into the cab of a moving vehicle. Read what a post on www.Fullyloaded.com.au detailed about the alert:

The man was believed to have been run over when he attempted to gain access to a truck as it rolled down an incline. “There have been six deaths in the agriculture sector since July 1 last year,” WorkSafe WA Commissioner Lex McCulloch says. “This equates to more than 35 percent of the total work-related deaths over this period. “And since the agriculture sector only accounts for 3 percent of the workforce Australia-wide, it is a serious concern that the sector is so over-represented in the fatality statistics. “These deaths are simply unnecessary and unacceptable, and everyone involved in agriculture – from farmers to industry associations to machinery dealers to manufacturers – has role to play in reducing the toll in the industry. “It is crucial to ensure that farm machinery is designed safely and that it is operated in the correct manner. Everyone needs to understand how to operate the types of plant involved in agriculture and be acutely aware of the associated risks. Source: http://www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/articleid/83662.aspx

Truckies and other pedestrians around heavy vehicles need to be aware of the dangers of moving vehicles, reversing vehicles as well as load and unloading of vehicles.  As this incident demonstrates truckies (or anyone for that matter) should never attempt to jump into a moving vehicle. Being crushed by their own vehicle is a risk that truck drivers must face and occurs in a number of different circumstances. In another truckie incident a Kiwi truck driver was almost crushed when the vehicle he was travelling in flipped and rolled. The 48 year old driver had to crawl out of the truck’s cab through the back window while the vehicle rested on its roof. The driver was lucky to escape with only minor bruising. A crane had to be brought in to lift the vehicle and move it out of the way. Read what happened according to a post from www.stuff.co.nz:

“I just remember turning upside down and that was about it,” said the Palmerston North man, who did not want to be named. “And then there was just grass and dirt and s… everywhere.” The impact folded up the cab, leaving just a narrow section uncrushed. “I was in a bit of shock when I couldn’t get my legs out,” he said. “I had to grab my jeans to pull my legs out from under the dash. There wasn’t a lot of room but I must have kind of got thrown between the two seats when it went over.” He managed to crawl out the back window and into a paddock. He suffered only bruising. Read more:http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8452358/Driver-nearly-crushed-as-truck-flips