Building material supplier Bell Plaster Supplies has committed to spending over $480,000 to enhance health and safety following an incident at their Pascoe Vale warehouse.
In April 2022, a worker was injured by a reversing forklift, resulting in multiple surgeries.
The company could have prevented the incident by implementing a traffic management plan, designated zones for forklifts and pedestrians, using spotters, erecting speed limit signs, and ensuring daily inspections and maintenance of forklifts.
As part of the $480,509 undertaking, Bell will employ a full-time OHS Manager, engage a consultant for 36 months to provide OHS audits, policy reviews, and HR support, donate $10,000 to the Australian Institute of Health and Safety, distribute safety brochures within a five-kilometre radius of the workplace, sponsor pre-workforce seminars on safe work practices, and install safety sensors to sound alarms when pedestrians are near forklifts.
WorkSafe emphasise the importance of safe operation of mobile plant, stressing the need for traffic management plans, separation of pedestrians and machinery, effective communication systems, signage, visibility control, proper licensing, regular inspections, maintenance, and crucially, employee consultation on health and safety issues.