In 2017 SafeWork NSW prosecuted & subsequently fined businesses a total of $835,000 for incidents where workers were either injured or killed by a forklift. This has prompted us to again highlight the importance of Fork Lift Safety seriously & offer assistance.
Take Forking Seriously – From July 2014 and July 2016, nearly 1500 workers were injured in forklift incidents, including three fatalities. Those incidents cost the New South Wales workers’ compensation system more than $30.5 million. Some of the causes are inadequate traffic/pedestrian management, load fell, rollover and unsafe acts.
SafeWork NSW carried out a one-week forklift safety blitz in Sydney, Australia, earlier this month. This was a repercussion of the three deaths, and the agency saying it was done trying to rectify the mass number of injuries in the previous two years. SafeWork’s “Take forking seriously” program has been aimed at reducing deaths and injuries from forklifts and increasing awareness around the possible dangers of operating and being in the vicinity of an operating forklift.
Between July 2014 and July 2016, close to 1500 workers were injured in forklift incidents, a number that included three fatalities. Those incidents cost the New South Wales workers’ compensation system more than $30.5 million.
The executive director of SafeWork NSW, said, “Despite the inherent dangers of forklifts in the workplace, we strongly believe incidents can be reduced. Inspectors will this week be checking Sydney businesses are complying with safety and licensing laws as well as outlining some of the support available to improve forklift safety.”
Businesses should have a traffic management plan that separates pedestrians and vehicles to help prevent incidents, a plan should includes signage, “no go” zones, use of pedestrian walkways, and exclusion zones during loading and unloading, these exclusion zones can be demarcated by witches hats, paint, bollards or a combination. Businesses should also ensure every forklift operator has a current and valid license and always wears a seat belt.
Do you have appropriate safe systems of work for forklift operations?
For support or advice, please contact our WHS specialists for assistance.
For previous Articles on Fork Lift safety click here.
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Source: SafeWork NSW
Title: Fork Lifts & Safety
Read/View Time: 10 Minutes