SafeWork NSW’s Safety Around Your Vehicle Compliance Project promotes safer working practices when loading, unloading and working around vehicles. Stage 2 of the project is now underway and will run until June 2022.

SafeWork NSW Executive Director Tony Williams said, “During Stage 1 of the project, [from] 1 March to 30 August 2021, inspectors visited 327 transport and construction businesses throughout NSW, issuing 71 notices. They focused on promoting safer working practices for transport operators when loading, unloading and working around vehicles.

“Stage 2 is extended to carry out visits across the supply chain including retail, manufacturing and wholesale sectors. They will focus on high-risk tasks in and around heavy vehicles such as loading/unloading, forklift safety and traffic management.

“We have been carrying out widespread transport industry consultation to identify the highest priority risks. Almost every week we see workers getting injured while working around vehicles, whether that’s in a transport depot, unloading on a construction site, loading at a distribution centre, or making retail or home deliveries.

“These visits are about addressing safe loading and unloading practices, forklift safety, and promoting the separation of people, product and plant at all workplaces.”

Learn more about the Safety Around Your Vehicle Compliance Project at safework.nsw.gov.au.