TWO crushing fatalities and one serious injury in less than a week have prompted WorkSafe Victoria to issue a warning to workplaces to ensure they secure loads and vehicles at all times.
On 2 October 2008, a man died at a Powelltown sawmill when a four metre high stack of timber fell on him while he was positioning another stack with a forklift.
On 8 October, a man was crushed between two trucks when his mounted crane tipped over. On the same day, a worker at Epping suffered serious internal injuries when slabs of stone being unloaded from a shipping container fell.
According to WorkSafe Victoria, six people have died as a result of crushing injuries in 2008. Workplaces should take measures to minimise the risk of racking, vehicles or stacked goods moving.
These dangerous and unexpected incidents occur because of loads shifting during transit, the use of unsuitable storage racks for holding materials, poor stacking practices, and improperly supported vehicles.
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