Company and director fined for safety breaches

A Victorian brick manufacturing company and its director have been fined more $50,000 after a worker was seriously injured in a forklift incident in July 2019.

The Ballarat Magistrates' Court heard how the worker was crushed between a forklift and a pallet that was against a wall. He underwent surgery after suffering musculoskeletal injuries.

The company was fined $40,000 and also ordered to pay costs of $5,222 after pleading guilty to failing to provide a safe working environment.

The director was fined $7,500 for failing to take reasonable care.

The court heard that the director was operating the forklift when he reversed and hit a hydraulic ram leaning against the wall. He then drove the forklift forward and asked the employee to pick up the ram he had just hit. He reversed the forklift into the man, pinning him.

An investigation by WorkSafe Victoria found there was no physical barrier between forklifts and pedestrians, and the director did not hold a valid forklift licence at the time of the incident.

Be sure to check our Mobile Plant Working Near-Around Safe Work Method Statement

Read the full story on the WorkSafe Victoria website.