Fatal incident involving semi

In March 2023, a truck driver suffered fatal injuries after becoming trapped between the tipper body and chassis of a semi-trailer tipper combination. Early investigations indicated the truck driver appears to have been inspecting one of the tipper trailers at the time.

Investigations are continuing.

These findings are not yet confirmed, and investigations are continuing into the exact cause.

Equipment that uses hydraulics to assist movement has the potential to cause death or serious injury. Hydraulics are used across industries for trucks and transport, construction plant and equipment, farming machinery, manufacturing equipment, and amusement rides.

Serious crush injuries can result from normal movement of the hydraulic equipment and when the hydraulic systems fail, (from falling loads or unexpected moving parts). Plant arms or equipment can cause injury through rapid or slow movement, with or without the person being aware of the danger.

Contributing factors that may result in workers or others being crushed between the tipper body and chassis rail could include:

Taking steps to manage risks is a condition of doing business in Queensland. Effective risk management starts with a commitment to health and safety from those who manage the business. If an incident occurs, you'll need to show the regulator that you've used an effective risk management process. This responsibility is covered by your primary duty of care in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

Use the hierarchy of controls to help decide how to eliminate and reduce risks in your place of work. The hierarchy of controls ranks types of control methods from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest. It’s a step-by-step approach to eliminating or reducing risks. You must work through the hierarchy of controls when managing risks, with the aim of eliminating the hazard, which is the most effective control.

The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 specific duties for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), which involves management or control of plant - including requirements to manage the health and safety risks associated.

The person with management or control of plant at a workplace, must ensure maintenance, inspection, and if necessary, testing of plant be carried out by a competent person.

All trucks and trailers with tipper bodies should be permanently fitted with safety props to prevent the tipper body lowering when workers need to access the area underneath. The safety prop should be:

Control valves and levers should be located to allow access without the need to be under a raised tipper body.

The hydraulic circuit on the tipper should incorporate a safety feature that stops uncontrolled lowering of the tipper body in the event a hydraulic hose ruptures.

Before accessing any parts of the plant (including tipper truck systems) for cleaning, maintenance or repairs, all hazards must be identified and adequately controlled. Inspection should be conducted in accordance with a regular maintenance system to identify:

A safe system of work should be implemented to manage the risks associated with the inspection and maintenance of the plant (including tipper truck systems). The plant must be maintained and repaired according to the manufacturer’s specifications. If you identify deficiencies in the specifications, you should contact the manufacturer.

A safe system of work can include, but is not limited to:

Any remaining risk must be minimised with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE). For example, providing workers with steel cap boots, high visibility vests and protective eyewear.

The control measures you put in place should be reviewed regularly to make sure they work as planned.

Australian Standards can be obtained by contacting Standards Australia.

For advice and support:

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