Seatbelts important in cars and forklifts

Fork Talk
- 29 Sep 2005 ( #228 )
1 min read
WorkSafe Victoria inspectors will visit 500 large and small workplaces in their latest safety campaign.

During safety checks, the inspectors will look for seatbelts on forklifts and check whether they are in good working condition.

WorkSafe executive director John Merritt said forklift seatbelt use could save lives.

"If a tip-over happens when a seatbelt is used the operator stays in the forklift rather than ending up under it. That's why seatbelts are important," Merritt said.

"Modern forklifts are sold with seatbelts. Older ones often have the capacity to have them fitted. If they can be fitted, they should be. Seatbelts can be fitted to 90 per cent of forklifts

"As in a car, seatbelts can mean the difference between life and death," he said.

With tip-overs rated the second-highest cause of forklift-related deaths in Victoria, "expect to be inspected", Merritt said.

There are 85,000 forklifts operating in Victoria.
Also Read:
Five tips for implementing AI safety technology workers actually support
Chris Skipper
3 minute read
Five tips for implementing AI safety technology workers actually support Safety First - 18 Dec 2025 (#1261) Chris Skipper is the head of customer solutions at Voxel, a computer vision AI company focused on improving workplace safety and operations.
How far can one go modernising a decade-old forklift?
Froy Ruiz
3 minute read
How far can one go modernising a decade-old forklift? Your Focus - 11 Dec 2025 (#1260) Froy Ruiz is the safety compliance manager at Quinn Company. Here he looks at how far a company can go modernising older forklifts before replacing them.
Vehicle mounted terminals and private 5G/LTE is the next-gen wireless standard for security and performance
Tejal Ranjan
3 minute read
Vehicle mounted terminals and private 5G/LTE is the next-gen wireless standard for security and performance Your Focus - 4 Dec 2025 (#1259) Tejal Ranjan, vice president of global marketing at JLT Mobile Computers, looks at why private 5G and LTE will be standard for next-gen equipment
For more unique stories and expert insights: read our industry blogs
Blog articles provide perspectives and opinions and therefore may contain inaccurate or incomplete information. Forkliftaction Media accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions. If you feel that significant facts are overlooked, or have a different viewpoint on a topic addressed, we invite you to open a conversation in our Discussion Forums.

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

Inside The News
In this week’s Forkliftaction News , we report on an activist investment firm increasing its stake in Toyota Industries Corp (TICO), in a bid to stop the privatisation of the materials handling equipment manufacturer... Continue reading

Showcased in the Virtual Expo

Upcoming industry events …
March 3-7, 2026 - Las Vegas, NV, United States
January 28-30, 2026 - Bangkok, Thailand
31 March 2026 - Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

Inside The News
In this week’s Forkliftaction News , we report on an activist investment firm increasing its stake in Toyota Industries Corp (TICO), in a bid to stop the privatisation of the materials handling equipment manufacturer... Continue reading
Editorial calendar - planned features
CONSTRUCTION FORKLIFTS
HANDLING GOODS IN THE COLD
LOADING/UNLOADING FREIGHT
BROWNFIELD AUTOMATION
FORKLIFT ATTACHMENTS
BATTERY AFFORDABILITY AND LIFETIME
FORKLIFT SAFETY
Upcoming industry events …
March 3-7, 2026 - Las Vegas, NV, United States
January 28-30, 2026 - Bangkok, Thailand
31 March 2026 - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Inside The News
In this week’s Forkliftaction News , we report on an activist investment firm increasing its stake in Toyota Industries Corp (TICO), in a bid to stop the privatisation of the materials handling equipment manufacturer... Continue reading

Showcased in the Virtual Expo