Fine for inadequate forklift training

A Gawler fruit and vegetable business was fined $21,500 for breaches of workplace safety laws involving the provision of safe systems of work and keeping written statements on safe work procedures.

On 22 February 2006, a 25-year-old employee of She's Apples Service at Gawler had his left leg fractured when caught between a forklift and an industrial waste bin. The forklift had rolled down a slope where it was parked, since the brake was not properly secured.

SafeWork SA's investigation showed that the employee was required to use a forklift, although his employer was aware that he was not qualified to do so. There was no system to ensure that only employees who had been satisfactorily assessed as competent were permitted to operate forklifts.

The employer had also failed to conduct a hazard identification and risk assessment, or provide safe work procedures relating to the use of forklifts.

"Any forklift operator in South Australia must be assessed as competent by a properly qualified assessor," said SafeWork SA executive director, Michele Patterson.

"This helps considerably in ensuring that such equipment is used properly and safely, as a means of reducing the risk of harm in the workplace.

"To further strengthen safety systems, this year will also see the introduction of a national licensing standard which will require all forklift operators in SA to be licensed by SafeWork SA from 1 July," she said.