Vehicle hoists in automotive workshops will be the focus of a SafeWork SA awareness and compliance campaign.

The six-month campaign will target high-risk equipment such as vehicle hoists and pressure vessels, which are a common cause of serious injuries in automotive workshops.

In 2011, a worker died after being found crushed beneath a vehicle hoist at an automotive workshop in Wingfield.

The investigation indicated that an unsafe system of work and the poor condition of the hoist were the primary factors, triggering an earlier proactive campaign.

The 2023 campaign will provide a health check regarding vehicle hoists in automotive workshops, with the data collected being compared with the results from the 2011 campaign.

The automotive industry provides direct employment to almost 33,000 South Australians. The majority of these businesses are small and family-owned enterprises.

From July, SafeWork SA inspectors will visit a range of automotive workshops throughout the state, auditing the safety control measures in place for vehicle hoists and pressure vessels to protect workers from risk of injury.

A vehicle hoist self-assessment tool is available on SafeWork SA’s website to help workplaces identify risks.

If a non-compliance identified during the audit cannot be remedied while the inspector is on site, a statutory notice will be issued.

The inspectors will also provide advice, information and education in relation to vehicle hoists and pressure vessels.

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA), business owners are responsible for providing adequate training and supervision for all workers, ensuring equipment is in safe working order, and appropriately managing all risks to prevent injuries.

SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell said  the failure or misuse of a vehicle hoist has a very high likelihood of severe injury or death.

“We will be conducting compliance audits in automotive businesses to ensure safety in South Australian workplaces in the second half of 2023,” Mr Farrell said.

“I strongly encourage all businesses to be proactive about safety because every worker deserves to go home safely.”