SafeWork and Lindsay Transport launch safety app for transport workers

A new truck safety training tool has been released for the on-boarding and induction of workers in the NSW road freight industry.

Developed by SafeWork NSW and Lindsay Transport, the app is designed to promote safer practices among transport workers.

SafeWork Director of WHS Services Regional, Lisa Foley, said the augmented reality phone or online app will guide a driver through processes for entering or exiting the cabin, how to safely couple and uncouple trailers, conducting safety inspections and preventing vehicle rollaway incidents.

“The nature of the work in the transport industry makes it a high-risk for workplace fatalities and serious injuries, with major claims for injuries are around 50 percent greater than the average employment sector,” Foley said.

“We see serious injuries continue to occur when vehicles are being loaded and unloaded and during routine maintenance activities. But beyond the truck we are seeing workers being hit by moving objects, being trapped between objects and being impacted by a rollaway,” she revealed.

“The augmented reality application can be used in a studio mode or artificial environment, or it can be used with the truck in place in a real world environment. The format is process driven and establishes a workflow requiring the user to interact with the driver and truck wherever it is located,” she said.

The training puts in place standards which will promote safe working environments. For example, before climbing into their cab on onto their vehicle, workers should get the mud off their shoes to keep from slipping.

The new app was produced as part of an enforceable undertaking with Lindsay Transport, which included a three-month radio media campaign targeting driver fatigue, speeding, use of mobile phones and uncontrolled movement of vehicles.

Lyndsay Australia CEO, Kim Lindsay, said the company had worked closely with SafeWork to deliver important safety messages for the industry, including developing the Augmented Reality app to improve training in high-risk areas.

“The transport industry is a dangerous industry, –we are working with large plant and equipment on a daily basis. This free tool which supports new workers through their systems of work can only improve safety around the vehicle,” Lindsay said.

Last month, the OzHelp Foundation also launched Health in Gear, a health and wellbeing program designed to support truck drivers, including the program’s first podcast mini-series for truckies now available across all good podcast platforms.