New Zealand company fined after customer loses leg in forklift incident

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A New Zealand company has been fined after a customer lost her leg in a forklift incident, with WorkSafe NZ urging businesses managing on-site traffic to take heed of lessons learned from this tragic case. Trade Depot Limited faced court action after failing to separate pedestrians from moving equipment at its Onehunga site.

What Happened in the Forklift Incident

The woman was hit by a forklift while standing near the customer service counter in Onehunga in August 2022.

Aged 68 at the time, she was quickly transported to hospital due to the extent of her injuries, resulting in amputation of her left leg below the knee. This case highlights how quickly workplace equipment can cause life-changing harm when proper traffic management fails.

Why the Company Was Fined

Following an investigation, WorkSafe filed charges against Trade Depot Limited for failing to implement a proper traffic management plan ensuring separation between moving vehicles and pedestrians.

Moreover, investigators discovered the forklift's lights were not working at the time of incident, compounding existing safety failures within the business.

Trade Depot Limited has been ordered to pay fines reflecting the seriousness of these health and safety breaches. Courts continue to hold businesses accountable when equipment maintenance and traffic management fall short of required standards.

Key Safety Lessons for Businesses

This case demonstrates several critical safety failures common across sites using forklifts near customers or pedestrians:

• Lack of formal traffic management separating vehicles from foot traffic
• Faulty equipment, including non-functioning forklift lights
• Insufficient monitoring of high-risk areas near customer service counters

Similar failures have appeared in other cases, including a New Zealand worker losing an arm in a conveyor belt incident and another instance where a company faced charges following a fatal conveyor belt incident. Businesses handling hazardous processes have also faced consequences, such as a waste company fined after a fatal poisoning.

Strengthening Traffic Management and Equipment Checks

Businesses operating forklifts or similar equipment near pedestrians should prioritise robust traffic management systems. Regular equipment inspections, including functional lighting checks, remain essential to preventing incidents like this one.

A documented management approach helps ensure every worker and visitor stays protected from moving equipment. Health and safety plans should clearly outline pedestrian zones, vehicle pathways, and equipment maintenance schedules.

For businesses across New Zealand seeking guidance, resources like the Hospitality HSWA for New Zealand and the HSW Manual for New Zealand offer structured support for building compliant safety systems.

Building a Safer Workplace

Companies managing on-site equipment must treat traffic management as a core safety priority, not an afterthought. Regular reviews of vehicle movement, pedestrian pathways, and equipment condition can prevent devastating outcomes.

Explore our New Zealand safety management resources or review our Office/Administration HSWA for New Zealand for practical tools supporting compliant, safer operations.

For more workplace safety news and updates, visit our Frequently Asked Questions New Zealand (FAQ's) page, or read more here.

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