SafeWork SA warns of vehicle roll-away risks in workplaces

SafeWork SA Warns of Vehicle Roll-Away Risks in Workplaces

Three fatal incidents in South Australia over the past three years have prompted a safety warning from SafeWork SA about the risks posed by uncontrolled movement of vehicles in workplaces. Nine incidents involving roll-away vehicles have caused deaths, injuries and property damage across South Australian worksites since 2020.

Several people have also been injured, with property damaged in vehicle roll-away incidents recorded since 2020. Inadvertent movement can pose serious risks to workers nearby, particularly where plant and vehicles are involved in daily site operations.

What Causes a Vehicle Roll-Away Incident?

"A roll-away incident involves the unintentional movement of a vehicle because it has not been properly immobilised," SafeWork SA said. Vehicles that are not properly immobilised can move suddenly, turning a routine task into a hazardous situation within seconds.

According to the regulator, roll-aways occur on jobsites, parking areas and maintenance yards, or when a vehicle gets parked on the roadside. These hazardous scenarios often arise where drivers assume handbrakes or wheel chocks alone provide adequate immobilisation, learn more about related risks in our article on recognising risks associated with roll-away vehicles.

New Fact Sheet Targets Roll-Away Hazards

Last week, SafeWork Australia published a new fact sheet to help workplaces manage the risks tied to vehicle roll-aways. Guidance within outlines practical control measures businesses can apply across jobsites, yards and roadside locations.

"This new vehicle roll-away fact sheet will help businesses with a number of engineering and other control measures to increase safety and reduce risk," SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell said. Strengthening control over plant and vehicle movement remains central to protecting health and safety across South Australian industries.

Why Control Measures Matter for Plant and Vehicle Safety

Effective control measures reduce hazardous outcomes linked to plant left unattended or vehicles parked on uneven ground. Employers managing plant, vehicles or mobile equipment should review immobilisation procedures regularly, since vehicles that have not been safely immobilised roll-away without warning.

Businesses seeking further guidance on managing hazardous plant operations can consult our Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice for a broader overview of safety obligations. Supporting documentation, including a Company Vehicle Policy and Vehicle Inspection Checklist, helps formalise site-specific safety practices.

SafeWork SA has previously issued similar cautions following other serious workplace events, detailed in our coverage of SafeWork's warning following two serious incidents. Additional resources, such as an archived Vehicle Policy, remain useful references for businesses updating internal procedures.

Read more here.