New safety app for transport workers

SafeWork NSW and Lindsay Transport have released a truck safety training tool for the on-boarding and induction of workers in the NSW road freight industry which will promote safer practices.

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

“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 around 50 per cent greater than the average employment sector,” Ms 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.

“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,” Ms Foley said.

We’ve used the app here at Trucksales and not only is it informative, it’s really quite fun. The app is easy to load and easy to navigate and the augmented reality is very clever. At one stage, I had the truck parked in my lounge room, hitching up a trailer.

As it’s free, there is no reason drivers of all skill levels shouldn’t download it and have a look, even if it’s just to get a refresher on what we should be doing.

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,” Mr Lindsay said.

To access the app click here.