Brisbane trucking operator forced to invest in workplace safety measures after being fined $30,000 over forklift incident
A Brisbane-based trucking operator has been forced to invest in workplace safety measures after it was fined $30,000 when a man’s foot was crushed by a forklift.
Road freight and warehousing company Finitor was investigated after the incident in April last year and was found to have no pedestrian walkways in its loading yard or control measures for staff working around forklifts.
The findings prompted the company to mark pedestrian areas and conduct a risk assessment for every aspect of the workplace, but it did not help it avoid being fined under the Workplace Health and Safety Act.
Finitor pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to provide a safe workplace, and was also ordered to pay investigation and court costs, which totalled $1208.40.
The court heard two workers were loading and unloading timber packs using a forklift when it reversed onto the worker’s right leg.
The investigation found forklifts regularly worked on more than one truck at time but the company did not have proper procedures in place for each task.
The court ruled against convicting Finitor, with Magistrate Wendy Cull saying the company had a previous good record and had cooperated with the investigation.