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BP recalls its entire Australian fleet after three people were killed by a detached BP petrol tanker.

Announcement posted by WHS Solutions 12 Aug 2014

On Thursday, a trailer of a BP petrol tanker detached, veering into oncoming traffic in south of Wodonga, Victoria, yesterday killing three people including a child.

BP has now pulled its national fleet from service following the crash on the Victorian-NSW border, in which a four-year-old boy, his mother and another woman died when a trailer came loose and smashed into two cars.

Witnesses said the truck was travelling normally before the trailer came off near Wodonga on Thursday morning, crossing on to the wrong side of the road and hitting the two cars head-on. Detective Inspector Bernie Rankin said it was impossible for the car drivers to take any evasive action. "These people had absolutely no chance at all, it happened in a matter of a split second," Detective Inspector Rankin told Fairfax Radio on Friday.

Authorities are continuing their investigations of the the incident and BP has recalled around 42 BP and contractor vehicles nationwide as a matter of precaution.

Andy Holmes, President BP Australia, has released a statement saying he was deeply saddened by the events and that the thoughts of BP are with the families of those who have lost their lives.

“While the precise cause of this tragic incident may not be known for some time,” Holmes said. “It is essential we do all that we can to understand how this occurred and to ensure that it cannot happen again.”

However, it has since been revealed that safety concerns were raised by the Transport Workers Union, with the company in May following several accidents involving tanker drivers. The Transport Workers Union wrote twice to BP, the first time on May 26, warning of driver concerns about "possible aberrations" in contracting practices in Western Australia, where drivers were being pressured into working shifts more than 16 hours long.

The Transport Workers Union says it will start legal action against "rogue" operators in the oil, fuel and gas industries in the wake of the crash.

In order to reduce truck-related fatalities several work safety and health areas need to be targeted. Most importantly vehicles and equipment need to maintained and used correctly, so this calls for the improvement of current training processes and regular servicing. Ensuring the cargo is appropriately restrained; particularly during unloading operations is another area of concern. Also the truck drivers themselves need to be managed in such a way that will reduce their fatigue and encourage them to use appropriate speeds for the conditions.

Targeting these health and safety areas will not just improve the working environment of truck drivers and the people who work closely with trucks, but also that of the general public.

WHS solutions can work side-by-side with you manage your occupational health and safety systems. We protect your well-being, assets, family and staff from unnecessary harm – all for a fixed fee. WHS Solutions can provide you with the proper certification so you can operate in confidence allowing your employees to feel safe in their workplace. This in turn allows your company to increase in value and solidify its workplace health and safety reputation in the industry.

For more information regarding WHS Solutions, please contact:
Email: enquiries@yoursafetysolutions.com.au
Telephone: 08 9427 1788
Or visit http://yoursafetysolutions.com.au/