Fatal Falls Are Preventable: Why Safety Gates on Truck Tailgates Save Lives

Creating a safe work environment is not just a compliance exercise, it is a legal duty, a moral responsibility and a critical part of protecting workers, business reputation and financial stability. 

In transport, logistics and warehousing one of the most underestimated risks continues to be “falls from height”.  They are often dismissed as “low risk” or “unlikely,” but history and prosecutions show otherwise.

In June 2023, a tragic incident in Victoria once again highlighted how preventable these accidents are.  A 55-year-old driver fell just 1. 2 metres from an elevated truck tailgate while loading linen trolleys.  He sustained fatal head injuries and later died in hospital.

Following this, WorkSafe Victoria charged two companies with multiple breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) for failing to implement reasonably practicable fall prevention measures.

This incident is a sobering reminder that failing to install something as basic as safety rails can cost a worker’s life and a company’s future.

Why Falls from Tailgates are so Dangerous

Truck tailgates and loading docks are dynamic, high-risk zones.  Workers are often balancing heavy goods, manoeuvring trolleys or coordinating with forklifts and delivery schedules all while working at height.

The risk is clear:

• A fall from as little as one metre can cause life-threatening head or spinal injuries.
• Falls are the second leading cause of workplace fatalities in Australia, with the transport, postal and warehousing sector recording some of the highest numbers (Safe Work Australia, 2023).
• Most falls occur during routine, everyday tasks, loading, unloading, accessing trucks, not during unusual or extreme activities.

These are not freak accidents.  They are foreseeable, predictable and preventable.

The Legal Duty: What the WHS Law Requires

Under the WHS Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state legislation, employers and officers have a duty to provide a workplace that is safe and without risks to health, so far as is reasonably practicable.

For loading docks and tailgates, “reasonably practicable” controls include:

• Installing safety rails,or swing gates on truck tailgates.
• Ensuring barriers or guardrails at loading docks where live edges exist.
• Developing and enforcing safe systems of work for loading and unloading.
• Providing worker training on safe practices and use of equipment.

Case Study: The Fatal Tailgate Incident

In the WorkSafe Victoria case, the companies failed to provide:

• Designated loading and unloading zones.
• Clearly marked pedestrian exclusion zones.
• Physical barriers or rails to prevent falls from the truck tailgate.

The court noted that all these measures were installed only after the fatal incident, proof that they were practical, affordable and achievable in the first place.

The consequences:

• A worker lost his life.
• Two companies now face prosecution, with potential fines in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Long-term reputational and financial damage.

This incident highlights the importance of workplace being more proactive rather than reactive.

Engineering vs. Behaviour: Why Rails are Non-Negotiable

Too often, businesses rely on training or “common sense” to manage fall risks.  But safety professionals know, behaviour alone cannot be the control measure.  People get distracted, fatigued or pressured by deadlines.  That is why physical controls like safety rails are so critical.

• Sliding or no barriers: Rely on workers remembering to close or avoid edges.  High risk.
• Swing or rollover gates: Provide continuous edge protection and remove reliance on behaviour.  Low risk.

In safety, we follow the Hierarchy of Controls.  Guardrails are an engineering control far higher in effectiveness than administrative controls or PPE.  Installing them is not just good practice; it is a legal expectation.

Business Impacts of Ignoring Fall Risks

Beyond the devastating human cost, failing to control fall hazards can cripple a business:

• Financial costs: Fines, workers’ compensation claims, legal fees and insurance hikes.
• Operational disruption: Investigations and downtime following a fatal incident.
• Reputation loss: Negative media coverage, regulatory scrutiny and damaged client trust.
• Personal liability: Directors and officers can face prosecution and personal fines.

Prevention is always cheaper than the fallout from a fatality.

Practical Steps for Businesses

If you operate trucks, loading docks or mezzanine areas, here are steps you must take now:

1. Risk Assessment
   Review all loading areas for fall hazards.  Document risks and controls.
2. Install Safety Rails
   Fit tailgate safety rails, swing gates or rollover barriers.  The Verge solutions to these issues are the; Telescopic Swing Gate, the Verge-Dock-PRO and Verge-ECO Rail as they provide proven solutions for separation and edge protection.
3. Designated Safe Zones
   Create exclusion zones and mark pedestrian-only areas.
4. Safe Systems of Work
   Develop loading/unloading procedures that mandate barrier use.
5. Training and Supervision
   Train staff in correct use of tailgate safety rails and supervise compliance.
6. Review and Monitor
   Conduct regular inspections and audits to ensure rails and systems are maintained and effective.

Ready To Create a Safe Work Environment?

Every workplace fatality is one too many and falls from tailgates are among the most preventable.  The tragic death of the Victorian truck driver serves as a powerful reminder that simple, low-cost controls like safety rails save lives.

Business leaders and safety professionals must act now.  Review your operations, invest in the right safety infrastructure and embed fall prevention into your culture.  The law is clear, the risks are known, and the solutions are readily available.

Because at the end of the day, no delivery deadline, no operational pressure and no cost-saving measure is worth a life. Bottom of Form

We provide practical, effective dock solutions that align with WHS obligations while supporting safer, more efficient loading and warehouse operations.