Mobile plant, fixed machinery and vehicles compliance blitz
In New South Wales (NSW), more than 140 notices have been issued by SafeWork NSW inspectors as part of a statewide targeted compliance operation to reduce injuries caused by mobile plant, fixed machinery and vehicles in the workplace.
Forklift safety accounted for most of the notices issued to date, which included managing risks such as separation from pedestrians, rollover and collision, as well as maintenance and inspection of plant.
Agricultural, construction, manufacturing, retail and transport were the industries in which inspections are being conducted, while the mobile plant, fixed machinery and vehicles covered have included cranes, earthmoving equipment, forklifts, quad bikes, tractors and trucks.
Ensuring separation between people and plant, preventing access to moving parts, preventing rollovers and ensuring proper training and licensing were the key risks being targeted. Inspectors focused on these high-risk areas as they are one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities in NSW — as highlighted in SafeWork NSW’s 2024–2025 Annual Regulatory statement.
“Being hit by moving plant or vehicles or injured when working with fixed machinery are preventable hazards we see across our state and across all industries. Awareness and assessment of the risks along with implementation of safe systems of work is key to reducing incidents. This involves particular consideration of the operating environment, separation of workers and vehicles, and consultation with workers to keep them safe,” Head of SafeWork NSW Trent Curtin said.
“SafeWork NSW inspectors will educate workplaces they visit regarding safe practices but will not accept workers’ lives being placed at risk, and can issue on-the-spot fines for serious safety breaches,” Curtin said. “All workers deserve to return home safely at the end of their work day. No job is too important that it can’t be done safely.”
Information on how to reduce mobile plant, fixed machinery and vehicle related hazards is available here, on the SafeWork NSW website.
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