Company fined $450,000 after worker struck by forklift

As a result of a SafeWork NSW prosecution, a company has been fined $450,000 after a worker was seriously injured when they were struck by a forklift.

The company was fined in the Industrial Court of NSW, having pleaded guilty to an offence pursuant to section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) — for failing to comply with its duty under section 19(1) of the Act. ​

The proceedings arose from an incident on 10 October 2022. The full judgment can be read here, on the NSW Caselaw website.

“Risk control measures for working with moving plant and fixed machinery are well known. Being hit by moving plant or vehicles or injured when working with fixed machinery are preventable hazards we see across our state and across all industries,” SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer said.

“Preventing injuries caused by mobile plant, vehicles or fixed machinery is an area for action in SafeWork NSW’s regulatory priorities,” Schorer added. “Having an awareness and assessment of the risks, along with implementation of safe systems of work, is key to reducing the number of incidents related to moving plant.”

A range of resources to help manage the risks of working with plant, machinery and equipment are available here, on the SafeWork NSW website.

Image credit: iStock.com/andreswd. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.