Wednesday 10th March 2021

Workplace Safety News: Wednesday 10th March 2021

Today's safety news roundup covers two serious workplace incidents reported this week, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by road workers and storage facility employees across Australia. Below we break down both cases and the safety lessons they offer for construction, logistics, and industrial professionals.

Road Work Accident Leads to Amputation

Two traffic controllers in Perth were injured earlier in the week when their work vehicle was hit by a passing SUV, trapping them between their vehicle and a trailer.

One of the workers suffered such severe injuries that doctors needed to amputate his right leg. The other man was treated for minor injuries to his arms and legs.

Both men were finishing their shift on the Great Eastern Highway just before midnight when the collision occurred. Police stated that the SUV driver was found a kilometre away in what appeared to be a hit-and-run incident.

WA Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner has asked motorists to "slow down, pay attention and comply with the speed limits to keep road workers safe." This incident reinforces the importance of robust traffic management procedures on active worksites.

Full details of this story appear on the Nine News website.

Fatality at a Storage Facility

A 61-year-old man has been killed by steel that fell from an elevated storage rack. This tragic event brings the 2021 Victorian workplace fatality toll to five people so far this year.

The incident occurred at a Dandenong South storage facility on the 3rd of March, just a week before this news update on the 10th of March 2021. It is believed the man was using a reach stacker when the accident happened.

WorkSafe Victoria is investigating the incident to determine what safety failures contributed to the fatality. Facilities storing heavy materials on elevated racking should review their racking inspection and load safety protocols to prevent similar tragedies.

Original release available on the WorkSafe Vic website.

Why These Incidents Matter for Safety Professionals

Both stories from the 10th March news cycle underscore a critical point: workplace hazards evolve constantly, and safety systems must keep pace. Whether managing traffic control on highways or elevated storage systems in warehouses, proactive risk assessment remains essential.

• Road workers need visible signage, physical barriers, and driver compliance with reduced speed zones
• Storage facilities require regular rack inspections and clear exclusion zones during loading operations
• Employers must document incident investigations thoroughly, as WorkSafe Vic is doing with the Dandenong South case

For more workplace safety updates, check our news coverage from Wednesday 17th March 2021 and Wednesday 31st March 2021 to stay informed on the latest incidents and regulatory developments shaping workplace safety this year.