Forkhoist accident costs company $272,000

Forkhoist accident costs company $272,000

An Auckland based transport & logistics company have been fined $272,000 by WorkSafe NZ following a workplace accident with a forkhoist.

A truck driver collecting goods was struck by a reversing forkhoist and suffered several fractures to his left foot.

In a statement from WorkSafe's deputy GM for investigations - Simon Humphries, "(the company) had a responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act for those truck drivers and other workers coming onto their site". "Traffic management should be a paramount health and safety concern for businesses using them (forkhoists) and for those with vehicles moving on, off and around your workplace."

Only $20,000 of the fine was given for reparation to the injured party.

Traffic Management plans not only need to cover the physical attributes of who drives where and demarcations between pedestrians and vehicles, but also needs to cover the training and communication of such plans to ALL workers who are exposed to these risks including non-employees.

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