What Happened?
When loading pedestrian barriers onto a pick-up truck, the injured party moved back towards the side of the pick-up. He then lost his balance and fell backwards over the rail, landing on the ground, sustaining injuries to his back and shoulders.
The photograph provided is for illustration only.
Corrective Actions
- Pick-up trucks provided by the Company are fitted with edge protection, as illustrated.
- On the day of the incident, a company vehicle was recalled for service and a replacement (hired) vehicle was used. The replacement vehicle did not have edge protection around the bed of the pick-up and thus did not provide fall protection.
Immediate Learnings / Recommendations
- Ensure that the company’s policies and procedures are adhered to when replacement vehicles are sourced externally.
- Contact all vehicle rental companies with whom the company contracts for the supply of temporary vehicles, advising of the requirement for edge protection where there is a risk of injury to the vehicle user.
- Ensure that all senior staff and supervisors are aware of the company’s requirements for edge protection on vehicles where there is a risk of falls from height and that personnel should not proceed if the edge protection is not in place.