Thursday 11th February 2021

Truck driving increases the risk of physical and mental health problems. 

1 in 5 truck drivers aged under 35 years reported severe psychological distress, and 54.3% of drivers are obese according to reports from the Monash University's Driving Health Study.

Between September 2019 and May 2020, almost 1,400 drivers from all over Australia filled out an online survey. Included were long-haul drivers (who drove more than 500km in a day) and short-haul drivers (who drove less than 500km in a day), as well as owner-operators and employee drivers.

High blood pressure, back problems and mental health were the most common medical issues.

The survey aimed to help understand drivers' health and what could be done to help them stay healthy at work.

You can find the full reports on the Driving Health website.

Safety alert issued by NSW Resources Regulator. 

A safety alert has been issued for the mining industry after an unattended CAT793D haul truck rolled 65-metres from the designated parking line at the workshop, colliding with a pump and infrastructure at the wash bay.

The incident occurred 10th January 2021, when a haul truck operator parked the vehicle at the mine workshop for repairs. Although the truck was parked across a parking hump and the engine was switched off, the truck rolled backward soon after the operator exited the vehicle.

The runaway vehicle could not be stopped by the operator.

Investigations into the incident identified the following:

• The park-up hump at the workshop deadline was not constructed to the site standard.
• The post-incident inspection of the truck cab found that the park brake had not been selected.
• The fail-safe park brake mechanism did not activate when the truck’s ignition was switched off.

The NSW Resources Regulator has reminded mine workers they must ensure the park brake is applied before exiting mobile plant and not to rely on safety interlocks or other means of application of the park brake.

It is also recommended that mine operators ensure brake testing regimes on mobile plant includes testing fail-safe mechanisms and interlocks.

The official Safety Alert can be found on the NSW Resources Regulator website.

Charges laid after chemical poisoning at Christchurch factory. 

In May 2019, a Pest Control Research worker came in contact with a poisonous substance while processing chemicals. The worker was hospitalised and put into an induced coma for more than two weeks after the exposure.

The Pest Control Research (PCR) factory located in Bromley, Christchurch housed chemicals to make the pesticide 1080. The company have said they were not manufacturing 1080 at the Bromley warehouse but storing the chemicals there.

WorkSafe New Zealand has filed charges against PCR under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Charges include:

• Exposing an individual to risk of harm or illness
• Failing to have an emergency response plan
• Failing to ensure a location site plan was in place.

Original article found on the Stuff Limited website.