A truck driver complained about feeling strange after suffering a workplace accident.
The heavy vehicle operator recently tried to deliver construction materials to an undisclosed site. He parked too close to a fence, preventing him from fully opening the driver’s side door.
When the driver completed the task and returned to his vehicle he lost his grip, slipped along the step towards the door, and fell to the ground.
“The following day the driver reported a sore back and his leg felt weird. He said he had woken up with soreness,” a MinEx safety alert said.
“The driver was diagnosed with a lumbar sprain and received physio[therapy] and acupuncture treatment.”
Investigators made the following recommendations:
- securely fasten, lace up or zip up safety boots
- keep work areas free from obstructions to prevent slips, trips and falls
- maintain three points of contact when entering and exiting the cabins of mobile equipment
- train workers in how to minimise hazards while entering and exiting mobile equipment cabins.
