A New South Wales food supply company has been fined AUD300,000 over a 2021 forklift accident that left a worker severely injured, 7News.com.au reports.

Brent Seaborn was struck by a forklift in the Port Macquarie warehouse of Bidfood NSW Pty Ltd in January 2021, the report says.

In a statement of agreed facts presented to the New South Wales District Court after a SafeWork NSW investigation, Bidfood NSW admitted the forklift had no reversing beeper fitted, no seatbelt and a horn that worked intermittently.

The worker who was operating the forklift at the time of the incident was not licensed as a forklift driver, the court heard.

After the accident, Seaborn underwent nine surgeries and was confined to a wheelchair for more than six months.

“Mr Seaborn’s life has been significantly diminished as a consequence of these injuries,” District Court Judge Wendy Strathdee said in sentencing.

Bidfood pled guilty to breaching the New South Wales Work Health and Safety Act, admitting to exposing Seaborn and two other workers to a risk of death or serious injury.

The company was fined $300,000 after being given a discount of 25% for pleading guilty.