In February 2023 a trade assistant and another team member at Cahill Transport were removing and replacing the axles of a drop deck B-double trailer when an air bag spring arm fell on the trade assistant, pinning him to the floor. While undertaking the task a single hydraulic bottle jack was used to support the 350kg weight of the axle whilst the Trade Assistant worked underneath it. At the time of the incident, they had finished working on the centre axle and were climbing out from under the trailer and had removed the jack stands. The bottle jack fell over, and the spring arm of the air bag attached to the axle fell onto the Trade Assistant, resulting in serious crush injuries to his shoulder.
A WorkSafe inspector attended the site and issued an Improvement Notice requiring a safe system of work for the removal and refitting of semi-trailer axles – at the time the employer did have a general manual, but it did not contain any procedure or system of work for this task. Cahill Transport accepted that they failed to maintain a system of work that would have eliminated or reduced the risk of serious injury or death. Key components of such a system would include expressly prohibiting any person from placing any part of their body under any part of a vehicle that is supported by a hydraulic bottle jack, and that such jacks should only be used to raise vehicles - not to hold, support or bear the weight of the vehicle.
Read more: Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings | WorkSafe Victoria
