Flooring specialists Godfrey Hirst Australia has entered into an enforceable undertaking as it faces charges of failing to provide a safe working environment, following a worker being struck by a forklift.

WorkSafe has said it may reinstate the charges Godfrey Hirst was facing – including failing to ensure that persons other than employees were not exposed to health and safety risks – if the enforceable undertaking is contravened or withdrawn.

WorkSafe Victoria says in July 2024, a driver contracted by another company was waiting for his truck to be packed with carpet tiles in Godfrey Hirst’s Breakwater facility loading area when he was struck in the back by a forklift.

The driver was knocked to the ground and briefly lost consciousness, requiring hospital treatment for bruising on the back of his ankle.

WorkSafe alleges the company failed to reduce the risk to health and safety by failing to have a traffic management plan in place to protect anyone in the loading area, including truck drivers and forklift operators.

The estimated AUD150,000 (USD105,000) undertaking requires Godfrey Hirst to implement additional safety features at the Melbourne facility within 14 months. 

This includes smart boom gates using facial recognition to only allow staff who have completed necessary induction and training, to access the highest-risk area of the workplace.

Artificial intelligence cameras will also be installed around the workplace to continuously monitor traffic zones while enhanced forklift safety features, such as pedestrian detection and speed reduction, will also be implemented.

Godfrey Hirst has also undertaken to create and deliver an industry training seminar on learnings from the incident with the support of the Geelong Manufacturing Council as well as making a AUD10,000 donation to the Barwon Health Foundation, supporting services and care provided in Geelong and surrounding regions.

WorkSafe chief health and safety officer, Sam Jenkin, says it is concerning to see an experienced business operating forklifts near workers without a traffic management plan in place.

“Too often we see incidents occur when the risks and hazards are well-known and employers should be very familiar with their obligations and prevention measures,” he continues.

“This enforceable undertaking will improve safety at the Breakwater site, while educating the industry to help prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.”