SA employers urged to take measures to prevent falls from trucks and trailers

SA Employers Urged to Take Measures to Prevent Falls from Trucks and Trailers

SafeWork SA reminds workers and employers to put in place safety measures to prevent falls from trucks and trailers. Truck drivers received the most serious fall injuries in 2021, according to SafeWork SA data.

South Australia's workplace safety watchdog says falls from flatbed trucks and trailers increased by 60 per cent in 2021, placing renewed focus on risk management across the transport sector.

Why Falls from Trucks Remain a Serious Workplace Hazard

SafeWork SA Executive Director Martyn Campbell said, "Whilst many employers and workers are heeding our safety messages, we still see serious injuries from falls from height in the transport industry."

"No matter what industry you work in, any work from height on any vehicle or apparatus can cause a serious and life changing injury. It can even be fatal", said Mr Campbell.

Falls from height during loading, unloading, or plant maintenance on flatbed trucks continue to pose a hazardous risk to transport workers across South Australia. Employers carry a duty under health and safety law to identify these risks and implement controls that keep drivers and other personnel safe.

Reducing Risk in the Transport Industry

Preventing falls requires a combination of practical measures, ongoing supervision, and a genuine safety culture within transport businesses. Employers are encouraged to:

• Ensure vehicles are regularly inspected and maintained to reduce hazardous conditions on truck decks and trailer surfaces
• Provide safe access equipment for loading and unloading tasks performed at height
• Assess plant and equipment used alongside trucks to confirm they meet current safety standards
• Review procedures for working on or around trailers, particularly during transport and logistics operations
• Encourage workers to report hazardous plant or equipment before incidents occur

These steps align with broader efforts to improve fall from height safety across South Australian workplaces, not just within transport and logistics.

Supporting Safer Transport Operations

Businesses operating trucks and trailers can strengthen their safety systems by adopting documented procedures for high-risk tasks. A Falls from Heavy Vehicles Safe Operating Procedure provides clear guidance for workers carrying out tasks at height on plant used in transport settings.

Similarly, a dedicated Trucks Loading and Unloading SOP helps ensure loading and unloading practices reduce risk of falls and other injuries on site.

Organisations seeking a broader framework for fall risk management may also benefit from a structured Falls Management Plan, which supports consistent hazard identification and control across multiple worksites.

A Shared Responsibility for Health and Safety

Preventing falls from trucks and trailers depends on shared responsibility between employers, supervisors, and workers. Health outcomes improve when hazardous tasks are identified early and risk controls remain part of daily operations rather than an afterthought.

SafeWork SA's warning reflects a wider pattern seen across other safety campaigns, including recent calls for employers to shield workers from hazardous exposure risks and ongoing efforts to prevent injuries linked to unsafe plant use in regional communities.

Employers wanting a practical starting point can use a Falls Prevention Checklist to confirm existing controls remain effective and current.

For those wanting to stay updated on emerging safety practices, industry events like the Workplace Health and Safety Show offer valuable insight into evolving transport and plant safety standards.

Source: SafeWork SA website.