A 35 year old truck driver was recently injured after he was struck in the head by a piece of falling equipment on the weekend. Investigations are currently underway as to the cause of the incident which resulted in a truck driver being flown to the Alfred Hospital after suffering serious head injuries from the incident. The man was unloading sheep from his truck at the time when the ramp collapsed. This serves as a reminder to truck drivers about risks associated with their work, contrary to the belief of many these risks are not restricted to the road. This post from Abc.net.au explains further: WorkSafe group leader for the Ballarat region, Brendan Baker, told ABC Radio Statewide Drive Victoria that the cause of the ramp collapse was unkown. “We are viewing CCTV footage of the abattoir and making enquiries into the specifics.” He says it could be months before the investigation is complete. “We look at training, supervision, maintenance records of machinery involved, we look at guarding, we enquire into what we refer to the systems of work, how the task was being performed, were there procedures in place, what are the protocols and obviously discussing and speaking with any witnesses.” Baker says agriculture is a high risk occupation and farmers need to prioritise their safety. “Those key principles, guarding, working around suspended loads, traffic management as we refer to it and there are some resources out there that people can available themselves of, check lists, simple tools that people can use to get on the front foot and asses the risks at their particular property and take the required steps prior to an incident occuring.” Source: https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/09/16/3849907.htm?site=westernvic Employers are required by law to carry out regular risk assessments, identify hazards, assess the risk of injury or harm, review workplace procedures regularly and consider means of controlling or reducing these risks. Even employees such as drivers need to be protected and provided with a safe system of work and safe work environment. Employers need to first identify the risks presented to truck drivers and then assess the risk of injury to the driver. These risks need to be eliminated or minimised by implementing the appropriate control measures.  For example loading bays should be situated in safe and suitable locations where vehicles can be manoeuvred easily and near tarping areas. Drivers like all other staff should be trained and informed of the control measures put in place to ensure their safety. For truck drivers the most important training that they will undergo is Chain of Responsibility Training. This training is vital for anyone involved in the chain of responsibility, not just drivers. According to the chain of responsibility laws truckies are not the only ones responsible for road freight safety. There a number of people in the chain that need to do their duties according to the law in order for the safety of the truck and other road users to be ensured. Visit our homepage for more information or to register.