The man, aged in his 20s, was walking beside a forklift which was balancing 660kg of stone cladding. The man tripped, the forklift did not stop in time and the man was hit. He was taken to the Alfred Hospital where he had surgery to his leg.
WorkSafe has issued a safety improvement notice requiring changes to work practices.
WorkSafe’s Executive Director, John Merritt said, separating pedestrians and forklifts was a basic safety issue often ignored in Victorian workplaces.
“This is not hard. Loads must be properly secured so that people do not need to balance them.
“There is no shortage of fatalities or serious and permanent injuries caused by loads falling from forklifts or pedestrians being hit by these machines.
“If you have a problem meeting this obligation consult the workforce, use some of WorkSafe’s forklift safety guidance material or call the advisory service on 1800-136-089.”
Yesterday’s incident happened less than a day after the launch of a new WorkSafe campaign promoting workplace safety.
“WorkSafe inspectors are active in workplaces where forklifts are used, and this presence will increase in the lead-up to christmas.
“We are serious about reducing the number of deaths and injuries in Victorian workplaces, and we expect employers and workers to be too.”
Publications include ‘Forklift safety- Reducing the risk’, ‘A guidebook of industrial traffic management and forklift safety’, ‘Purchasing or hiring a safe and efficient forklift’ and ‘Forklift safety checklist’.
Forklift drivers should also check that they have a current licence to perform high risk work. The licence replaces the old Certificate of Competency or Ticket. The licence is renewed every five years and can be used nationally. It is intended to ensure skills levels are maintained and to reduce the incidence of fraud. Old certificates issued before 31 March 1995 have now expired and must be renewed. You can check to see when your ticket expires at WorkSafe’s website
