Transport industry urged to review safety standards

The recent death of a worker at Carisbrook in central Victoria has prompted a WorkSafe warning to the transport industry.

A 42-year-old Maryborough man was crushed when a shipping container fell from a trailer as it was being loaded on. WorkSafe has begun a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

The director of WorkSafe's Transport and Storage division, Ross Pilkington, said the death again illustrated the critical need for people and machinery to be separated.

"WorkSafe has been working with the transport industry for three years to increase understanding of the risks associated with pedestrians during the loading and unloading of vehicles. "In the light of the...tragedy, now is the time for everyone involved with the transport industry to take stock of their situation. Potential hazards need to be identified and solutions put into effect. Pedestrians and operating plant must be separated.

"If it will take some time or considerable expense to resolve the issues, interim management steps must be developed so that risk is minimised. What WorkSafe often hears is that safety improvements are made after a death or serious injury has been suffered. By then it's too late. If there is a workplace safety issue, it must be attended to now."