Victoria launches new forklift safety campaign

Victoria Launches New Forklift Safety Campaign

WorkSafe Victoria has unveiled updated guidance and launched a comprehensive inspection campaign across the state in an effort to reduce fatalities and injuries associated with forklifts.

The new campaign follows similar efforts seen across Australia, where regulators continue tightening oversight of high-risk equipment used in construction, warehousing, and manufacturing settings.

What the New Guidance Covers

The recently released guidelines offer practical tips for employers on how to safely operate and maintain forklifts. They emphasise keeping forklifts and people on the ground separate at all times, since pedestrian interaction remains a leading cause of forklift-related incidents.

This guidance highlights various measures to lower risk, including implementing traffic control systems such as barriers, restricted areas, and clear signage. These resources give businesses a practical starting point for reviewing their own site layouts and traffic management plans.

Why Worker Safety Matters Here

Protecting worker health remains central to this campaign's objectives. A single incident involving forklifts can result in serious injury, lasting health consequences, or worse, making prevention efforts a priority for every site supervisor.

Every worker sharing space with mobile plant equipment deserves clear systems that reduce collision risk. Businesses seeking further safe work information can access additional resources through WorkSafe Victoria's website, which outlines inspection priorities for the coming months.

For broader context on regulatory change affecting Victorian workplaces, see our related coverage: New laws to boost workplace safety in Victoria. Other states have pursued comparable initiatives too, such as the new SafeWork SA campaign aims to improve safety on farms and the SafeWork rolls out new silica safety campaign.

Read more here.