A Traffic Controller sustained an ankle injury while walking to their designated post during traffic control works, resulting in a Lost Time Injury and highlighting the importance of identifying ground hazards within temporary traffic management worksites.
Date of Incident: 7 June 2026
Time of Incident: 8:00 PM.
EQSafe Event Type: Injury
Potential Consequence: Moderate Injury; Lost Time Injury (LTI); Slip, Trip and Fall Incident; Reduced Worker Mobility; Traffic Management Workforce Impact
What Happened
While conducting traffic control works for shoulder grading, a Traffic Controller was walking towards their designated post when they rolled their ankle on a grassed area adjacent to a driveway. The worker experienced immediate pain, with swelling developing shortly afterwards.
The Traffic Controller contacted their Crew Leader and was transported to the emergency department for assessment. The worker was diagnosed with an ankle injury and deemed unfit for work for seven days, resulting in a Lost Time Injury (LTI). A formal investigation was subsequently commenced.
Although traffic management personnel are often focused on live traffic risks, this incident demonstrates that hazards can also exist within the work area itself. Uneven ground surfaces, grassed areas, poor lighting, and unexpected terrain conditions can all present risks to Traffic Controllers working within temporary traffic management environments.
Contributing Factors:
Based on the preliminary information available, potential contributing factors may include:
- Uneven or unstable walking surfaces
- Reduced visibility associated with night works
- Unidentified ground hazards within the work area
- Travel through grassed or unsealed areas
- Limited assessment of pedestrian access routes to traffic control positions
Note: A formal investigation was ongoing at the time of the preliminary notice, and contributing factors had not been finalised.
Corrective Actions:
To reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring during traffic control and traffic management operations:
- Conduct site-specific hazard assessments before commencing work.
- Identify safe pedestrian access routes to all Traffic Controller locations.
- Inspect work areas for uneven ground, trip hazards, holes, and unstable surfaces.
- Ensure adequate lighting is available for night works.
- Include slip, trip and fall hazards in pre-start meetings and toolbox talks.
- Encourage workers to report hazards immediately so controls can be implemented.
- Review Traffic Management Plans (TMPs) to ensure worker access and movement within the worksite have been considered.
Key Takeaways
When people think of traffic management hazards, they often think of moving vehicles. However, slips, trips, and falls continue to be one of the most common causes of workplace injuries across the construction, civil, and traffic management industries.
Traffic Controllers and Traffic Management Personnel spend significant amounts of time walking between work areas, signage locations, and designated control points. Before entering a work area, take a moment to assess the ground conditions, identify hazards, and choose the safest path of travel.
A simple ankle injury can result in lost work time, operational disruption, and long-term impacts for workers. Safe traffic management starts with being aware of all hazards, not just those on the road.
Build Safer Habits with AusQ Training
This incident highlights the importance of hazard awareness, risk assessment, and safe work practices for everyone working in traffic control and temporary traffic management environments.
AusQ Training delivers nationally recognised traffic controller and traffic management training in Western Australia, helping learners develop the practical skills needed to:
- Identify workplace hazards
- Implement safe traffic control measures
- Work safely around live traffic
- Apply Traffic Management Plans (TMPs)
- Conduct site risk assessments
- Maintain safe worksite practices
Whether you’re starting a career in traffic management or renewing your accreditation, our industry-focused training helps workers contribute to safer roads, safer worksites, and safer outcomes for everyone involved.
Explore our Basic Worksite Traffic Management & Traffic Controller (BWTM & TC) training and other Traffic Management courses to build the skills needed to work safely and confidently in live traffic environments.
