A Queensland business has been convicted and fined $75K for failing to keep workers safe in an area where forklifts operate, highlighting the need for employers to adequately control the hazards of mobile equipment and pedestrians sharing space in the workplace.
In June 2022 a worker in the process area at Drake Trailers Pty Ltd was struck by a reversing forklift leaving him with foot and ankle injuries requiring surgery.
Forklifts were accessing the process area multiple a day while pedestrian workers were required to use the same area. There was a pedestrian walkway along the edge of the process area, but no barriers, warning signs or other visible markings and no physical separation of pedestrians and mobile plant. There were also no written procedures or restrictions relating to how and when people could safely access the process area.
Drake Trailers had a similar incident 10 years ago, for which it was prosecuted, and was well aware of the potential risks in the workplace regarding forklifts.
There are a number of reasonably practicable control measures that Drake Trailers could have implemented to manage the vehicle/pedestrian interface hazard and their failure to do so resulted in a serious injury and significant ongoing impact to one of their workers.
Given the rate of serious workplace incidents involving forklifts and other mobile equipment, employers have a responsibility to ensure that they are controlling these hazards with the highest possible controls – walkways alone cannot provide the level of safety that employees are entitled to expect when they go to work. A comprehensive traffic management plan developed in consultation with affected workers can reduce the risk of forklift related injuries and deaths.
Read more - Company convicted and fined after second forklift incident | owhsp
Developing a forklift traffic management plan | WorkSafe Victoria