A company that provides forklift operated unloading service for freight deliveries to the Melbourne Market Authority has been fined just $11,000 after a truck driver fell 1.5 metres from the back of a truck.
In January 2024 a truck driver arrived at Melbourne Market with a load of rockmelons to be unloaded by Fresh Centre Unloading Service Pty Ltd (FCUS). The forklift operator provided by FCUS had been in the job for four months and had received only one month of on-the-job shadowing training delivered by other FCUS forklift drivers.
During the process of unloading the truck the forklift operator lifted an electric trolley jack into the truck using a ramp tray attached to the tynes of the forklift. The trolley jack was used to bring the pallets of fruit closer to the rear of the truck for forklift access. When the unloading of the fruit was complete the FCUS’ forklift operator placed the ramp tray back onto the tynes and on to the trailer so the truck driver could load the trolley jack to be lowered back to the ground. The truck driver then stepped onto the ramp tray. FCUS’ forklift driver had been unloading trucks at the workplace in this way for approximately 16 weeks.
The truck driver called out for the forklift operator to wait while he pulls closed the rear truck door, but the forklift operator did not hear him and began to reverse the forklift. The truck driver lost his balance and fell 1.5 metres off the back of the truck and the ramp tray onto the ground. The truck driver was transported to hospital for treatment.
The risks of falling from trucks is well known in the industry, and there are ample methods of eliminating or reducing the risk of falling. Providing a work platform (instead of a ramp tray) that was constructed with guardrails and could be secured to the forklift using locks, pins or chains is an accepted control.
Whilst a fall of 1.5 metres may seem insignificant, the potential for serious injury or even death from a relatively short fall should be appropriately reflected in the risk assessments and control measures for tasks at any height. SafetyNet has reported in the past of a fatality resulting from a fall from the back of a truck of just 1.2 metres.
WorkSafe provides free guidance for employers on truck loading and unloading, the safe operation of forklifts, and falls.
Read more: Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings | WorkSafe Victoria