Onsite traffic management campaign – pedestrian safety around vehicles and mobile plant

Campaign focus

On-site traffic management (OSTM) is a significant safety issue across all types of industries. If OSTM risks are not properly managed, pedestrians may be seriously injured or killed.

In 2020 Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) conducted an OSTM campaign focussed on OSTM systems for high risk workplaces where mobile plant (e.g. forklifts, motor vehicles) operate near pedestrians.

Inspectors visited workplaces across multiple industries and sectors (including construction, retail, depots, distribution centres, manufacturing and rural ) to determine whether traffic management controls we re effective.

Inspectors looked at the effectiveness of systems and controls in place to eliminate or reduce the risk of vehicles colliding with pedestrians. Some examples of systems and controls that were checked included:

• separate pedestrian and vehicle routes, such as different entry and exit points for vehicles
• dedicated and separate areas away from pedestrians for loading and unloading goods
• wide traffic routes, so vehicles or plant do not enter pedestrian areas
• barriers, fences or exclusion zones, isolating workers or pedestrians from vehicles and mobile plant
• enforced speed limits and traffic signage
• checking mobile plant operators had high-risk work licences
• maintenance of mobile plant.

Resources

• Onsite traffic management project – phase 1 report (PDF, 0.78 MB)
• Onsite traffic management project - phase 2 report (PDF, 1.27 MB)
• Onsite traffic management self- assessment tool (PDF, 0.36 MB)
• Forklifts specific guidance
• All Access Crewing - managing on-site traffic - case study
• Hyne Timber case study
• RoadTek ;Toowoomba Depot case study
• Working in or around mobile plant short film
• Managing traffic on site - animation
• Managing your drivers' safety at delivery points short film
• Information on the different classes of high-risk work licences

Where to get help

Take advantage of the tailored, face-to-face advice provided by our Injury Prevention and Management (IPaM) advisors. IPaM advisors can assist you assess your traffic management systems and advise you on how to make improvements. IPaM is free for Queensland businesses. Register for IPaM now to talk to an advisor.