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 were 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
Checklists and templates
- Onsite traffic management self- assessment tool (PDF, 0.36 MB)
- Traffic management guidance plan and example template (PDF, 2.01 MB)
Videos and animations
- Hyne Timber video | Winner Work Well awards 2023 Category one
- Managing traffic on site - animation
- Managing your drivers' safety at delivery points short film
- Working in or around mobile plant short film
Case studies
- Auto guided vehicles case study: Carlton United Breweries
- All Access Crewing - managing on-site traffic - case study
- Hyne Timber case study
- RoadTek; Toowoomba Depot case study
Reports
- On-site traffic management campaign report (PDF, 0.42 MB)
- Onsite traffic management project – phase 1 report (PDF, 0.78 MB)
- Onsite traffic management project - phase 2 report (PDF, 1.27 MB)
Other information
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.