Man fatally struck by forklift at Sydney warehouse

A 57-year-old man was fatally struck by a forklift inside a Matraville warehouse in Sydney's east early on Monday morning. Paramedics could not revive him, and the site now sits under regulator scrutiny.

SafeWork NSW is conducting investigations into the death of a man that occurred on Monday morning at a Sydney workplace.

Emergency services rushed to a warehouse in Matraville at around 5.30am due to reports of a worker sustaining serious injuries.

Police were informed that a 57-year-old male worker had been hit by a forklift.

He was attended to by paramedics, but he passed away at the scene.

Read the original article here.

What we know so far

Details confirmed in news reports so far:

• Timing: Monday, roughly 5.30am, during a pre-dawn shift
• Location: a Matraville warehouse in Sydney's eastern suburbs
• Person involved: a 57-year-old male employee
• Mechanism: contact between a pedestrian worker and a load-shifting machine
• Outcome: the man died before transport to hospital could occur
• Next step: an active regulator inquiry that may shape enforcement outcomes

Why mobile plant contact keeps killing workers

Vehicle and pedestrian interaction ranks among the deadliest hazards inside warehousing operations. Safe Work Australia lists powered mobile plant as a recurring factor in work-related deaths, particularly where foot routes cross busy operating aisles.

Under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017, a person conducting a business or undertaking must eliminate or minimise risks arising from powered mobile plant, including risk of someone being struck. Early-morning starts compound difficulty: dimmer lighting, fewer observers, and quieter surroundings can mask an approaching machine until contact occurs.

Controls that separate people from moving plant

Effective safety controls layer engineering measures with supervision, rather than depending on operator vigilance alone:

• Hard separation — bollards, guardrails, painted walkways and gated crossings keep foot traffic clear of travel paths.
• Exclusion zones — barricade loading and unloading areas while machinery remains live.
• Visibility aids — convex mirrors on blind corners, blue projection lamps, reversing alarms and high-visibility garments.
• Lighting verification — audit lux levels across docks and yards used before sunrise.
• Licence checks — confirm each operator holds a current high risk work licence and proven competency for that plant class.
• Pre-start inspection — record horn, brake, steering and load backrest condition every shift; tag out defective units immediately.
• Traffic management plan — map one-way routes, speed limits, marked crossing points and delivery-driver rules.

Documented procedures underpin compliance

Written method statements give supervisors a defensible record showing how each task proceeds and who signs off on safety-critical checks. Ready-to-edit templates include:

• Forklift LPG SWMS — hazard identification plus controls for gas-powered load shifting.
• Forklift Maintenance SWMS — servicing, isolation and tag-out steps for mechanical work.
• Emergency Plan for OHS systems — response roles, first aid provision and evacuation duties.

Related workplace safety news

Our newsroom tracks fatal plant incidents recorded across Greater Sydney:

• Man fatally crushed by forklift at Sydney workplace
• Tradie fatally struck by falling object at Sydney warehouse
• Man fatally struck by truck at Sydney recycling business

What safety professionals should do this week

Walk the floor at the hour deliveries actually begin. Ask drivers and pickers where near-misses happen, then verify documented rules match observed behaviour.

News of a preventable death should trigger immediate review instead of waiting for the next scheduled audit cycle.

Stay across fatality news

Verified reporting helps teams learn quickly from other worksites. Follow our updates for further news on regulator prosecutions, and subscribe to the monthly safety newsletter for practical guidance.