Robinson’s Unloading Pty Ltd faced judgment in Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on 2nd August, after acknowledging a single indictment of not establishing and maintaining a safe work protocol free from health hazards. Without earning a conviction, the firm was put under a 12-month Good Behaviour Bond, with directives to reimburse $40,000 into the court fund along with an additional $6,139 for expenses.
The courtroom was informed about an incident that occurred in March 2023 at the Epping market. As a forklift busily loaded a semi-trailer with fresh produce, a ground worker circumvented a safety barrier to visually inspect the truck’s load. The unsuspected worker went unnoticed by the forklift operator due to the load they were working with, leading to an unfortunate collision which caused substantial injuries, warranting hospitalisation for the worker.
Post-incident analysis carried out by WorkSafe illustrated that Robinson’s Unloading lacked a suitable workplace strategy to avert accidents when pedestrians accessed the loading platform. It also revealed the absence of a formal traffic regulation plan to compartmentalise pedestrian activities from forklift operations, emphasising the need for Bluesafe WHS Management Systems.
Implementing thorough tactics such as traffic management plans is vital within work environments where mechanically-powered equipment like forklifts are in use, said Sam Jenkin, WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety. “It is crucial for employers to possess tangible systems that can segregate forklifts from grounded personnel. In cases demanding their coexistence within the same vicinity, pedestrian walkways and exclusion zones must be initiated and strictly followed,” added Mr Jenkin.
Although turbulent incidents involving forklifts lead to serious injury to a worker every week on average, adherence to SWMS (Safe Working Method Statements) or implementing the Bluesafe SWMS can mitigate these risks, making them utterly preventable. Hence, employers operating with mobile plant machinery like forklifts should ensure:
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Original article link: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2024-08/serious-forklift-injury-costs-company-40000