NSW forklift operators urged to follow safety rules

NSW Forklift Operators Urged to Follow Safety Rules

NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis, reminds workplaces to prioritise compliance when working with forklifts after more than 1500 serious forklift-related incidents were reported over the last five years. Every operator must hold a valid high risk work licence before handling this equipment, and businesses across construction, manufacturing, and warehousing sectors are being urged to review their safety practices.

Minister Cotsis attended safety education sessions at Sydney markets on Wednesday, alongside SafeWork Ambassador Mark Ellis, who lost his leg in a forklift incident. His story serves as a stark reminder of why forklift safety rules exist and why compliance cannot be treated as optional.

Forklift Incident Data Highlights Ongoing Risk

SafeWork NSW data shows five people were killed in forklift incidents between 2017 and 2022. These figures underscore why operators who follow forklift safety guidelines are less likely to be injured on-site, whether they work in construction, manufacturing, or logistics.

Operators handling this equipment must wear high visibility clothing at all times and follow strict traffic management protocols. SafeWork inspectors continue visiting businesses to check on compliance, providing guidance on licensing, seatbelts, and safe operating procedures.

SafeWork NSW Compliance Checks and Education

“To keep people safe, SafeWork inspectors will continue to visit businesses to check on forklift compliance and provide education on issues including licensing, traffic management, seatbelts, and forklift safety,” SafeWork NSW said on Wednesday.

These visits form part of a broader push by SafeWork NSW to reduce workplace incidents involving mobile plant and equipment. Sites in construction, manufacturing, and health services are particularly encouraged to ensure operators meet minimum licensing requirements before operating any equipment.

Why Forklift Safety Rules Matter for Construction and Manufacturing

Forklifts remain among the most commonly used pieces of equipment across construction sites, manufacturing plants, and distribution centres. Given their weight and manoeuvrability, even minor lapses in judgement can lead to serious injury or worse, particularly in high-traffic environments.

• Every operator must hold a current high risk work licence relevant to the class of equipment being used
• High visibility clothing is mandatory on active worksites, especially where forklifts share space with pedestrians
• Emergency procedures should be clearly documented and understood by all site personnel
• Traffic management plans need regular review to reflect current site conditions

Employers across construction and manufacturing industries have a duty under work health and safety legislation to provide safe systems of work. This includes ensuring emergency response plans are in place should an incident occur involving forklifts or other mobile equipment.

Resources to Support Forklift Compliance

SafeWork NSW encourages businesses to make use of available resources to strengthen their safety culture. Further information is accessible here, offering practical guidance for NSW workplaces looking to improve forklift safety outcomes.

Businesses seeking to formalise their approach to workplace safety may also benefit from reviewing established workplace safety rules documentation, which outlines clear expectations for staff conduct around hazardous equipment.

For context on how other states are addressing similar concerns, Victorian employers have also been urged to prioritise forklift safety following comparable incident trends. NSW mine operators have likewise faced increased scrutiny, with recent calls for annual WHS reporting to strengthen compliance across high-risk sites.

Health and safety professionals managing forklift fleets across construction and manufacturing operations can access tailored business safety templates and support to help maintain compliance with SafeWork NSW requirements.