VIC worker found guilty following forklift fatality

An employee has been found guilty and sentenced to a six month good behaviour bond after a co-worker was killed by a forklift load in a warehouse north-east of Geelong in October 2021.

The 53-year-old man received his sentence in the Geelong County Court following his guilty plea to a charge of neglecting his duty as an employee to ensure the health and safety of individuals who could be impacted by his actions or inactions in the workplace.

The court was informed that the operator was using the forklift on an irregular surface when the unstable load shifted, causing the death of a nearby worker who was serving as a spotter.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said this unfortunate incident highlights the essential duty that all individuals share in maintaining a safe working environment.

“It is unquestionably up to employers to provide a safe working environment, but workers must ensure their own actions do not place anyone else in a workplace at risk of harm,” Mr Jenkin said.

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