Originally published by the Australian Institute of Health & Safety
SafeWork SA recently issued a safety alert about the use of pallet trucks and tailgate lifters following an incident in which a worker was injured in the second serious incident this year.
The incident occurred while contractors were delivering stock in Adelaide’s northern suburbs on 13 June this year.
As the pallet jack was positioned onto a pallet on the delivery truck’s tailgate, the jack moved backwards, pushing the worker off the truck.
He fell to the kerb and hit his head, and the pallet jack also fell, landing on the workers’ legs.
The man was taken to hospital with a serious laceration to the head and a suspected leg fracture.
This follows a fatality in February involving a worker who was crushed by a pallet truck while using a tailgate lifter.
A worker died on 16 February 2024 when the pallet truck he was operating landed on him after he fell 1.4 metres from the tailgate platform edge.
The alert said businesses and contractors utilising tailgate lifters to load and unload materials should ensure the risks associated with working at height are managed.
Accidents stem from people or loads falling off the lifting platform, workers being crushed or cut by the moving platform or pedestrians and other vehicles colliding with the tailgate lifter while it is in use.
Businesses and contractors must identify and assess all risks associated with the use of the tailgate lift and ensure:
- it is strong and stable enough for the particular use
- it is marked to indicate safe working loads
- a regular inspection and maintenance schedule
- workers are appropriately trained in the safe use of the tailgate lifter
- controls are in place to minimise a person falling from the tailgate lift edge
To manage the risk of a fall, the alert said businesses and contractors should consider:
- the use of guard-rail solutions on the platform
- the use of increased slip-resistance surfaces on the lifting platform
- placing distinctive markings at the edges of the platform
To minimise risk, workers operating a tailgate lifter should:
- push the load on and off the platform, rather than pulling it, to minimise the risk of falling over the edge
- wear slip-resistant footwear
- stand sideways on the platform where possible and use guard-rails if there is a necessity to ride on the platform
