Safe Work Australia has updated the model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace to include guidance on vehicle roll-aways and safe immobilisation.

Vehicle roll-aways – the unintentional movement of a vehicle that has not been properly immobilised – are a major cause of work-related fatalities and injuries in Australia. Roll-aways can occur with cars, forklifts, trucks, tractors and trailers, on worksites, car parks, maintenance yards or when a vehicle is parked on the side of the road.

When vehicles that have not been safely immobilised roll away, a person can be hit, crushed, trapped or run over – leading to death or serious injuries.

The Code now includes guidance on control measures to prevent roll-aways, including parking on a level surface where possible and using wheel chocks.

Check out the updated model Code of Practice: Managing the risks of plant in the workplace, and the fact sheet, Preventing vehicle roll-aways and safe immobilisation.