Forklifts are the major focus of a blitz on workplace safety taking place in Swan Hill, in country Victoria, next week.
The week-long operation will be conducted by WorkSafe Victoria, the state government's workplace health & safety authority.
WorkSafe transport & storage director Trevor Martin said a 53-year-old man was crushed between the mast and roll cage of a forklift in June.
"Forklifts are one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment in the workplace. Since 1958, they have been responsible for 50 deaths and more than 6000 injuries in Victoria," Mr Martin said.
"What is unique about forklifts is that more than half the people who died were not even using the machines. They were pedestrians, including the public, hit by forklifts or crushed by falling loads."
Mr Martin said it was still common to find workplaces where forklifts and pedestrians were working together with no traffic management plan.
This year WorkSafe produced an information pack to help employers prevent forklift incidents through improved forklift management.
"The pack was the result of cooperation between WorkSafe, academia and industry to find the best solutions to common problems. It is the best safety tool any company using forklifts can have," Mr Martin said.
- Download the information pack -
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