Newsletter #381 (View other news stories)
Fine for forklift injury
REGENCY PARK, South Australia, Australia
Thursday, 9 Oct 2008
A company was fined AUD32,000 last week over an incident in which a worker’s foot was crushed by a forklift.
Pure Logistics Cold Chain Pty Ltd (PLCC), formerly known as Scotts Refrigerated Freightways Pty Ltd, was found guilty and convicted in an ex parte hearing.
The incident occurred in January 2006 at PLCC’s coldroom warehouse at Regency Park, South Australia
The victim, a 35-year-old male driver, was waiting to collect paperwork for his delivery at a bench inside the warehouse, when he was struck from behind by a reversing forklift and knocked to the ground.
His left foot was severely crushed, requiring extensive surgery including the insertion of plates and screws. He now has a painful permanent disability in his foot and had to leave his job due to his injuries. The victim told the court he was unemployed and felt "very much disabled and discarded".
Upon investigating, SafeWork SA found numerous safety failures by the employer:
• Not all forklifts had working audible warning devices and flashing lights (including the one involved).
• No speed limit applied to forklift drivers.
• There were no physical barriers to protect people from contact with forklifts.
• The system of traffic control to separate people from forklifts was inadequate.
• There were no designated walkways, and floor markings were faded.
• There was no evidence of hazard identification, risk assessment or risk control measures for the tasks performed.
SafeWork SA says contact with moving objects is a common source of harm in the workplace, and forklifts rank alongside tractors as some of the most dangerous pieces of machinery in Australian workplaces.
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