You may have recently read about the $160,000 fine imposed on Australia Post  as a result of a forklift accident – where a forklift ran over a contractor’s leg.

The main thing to note, is that accidents like this can be avoided by making sure workers are really well trained both in operating the forklifts and in the safety procedures that should be applied. Neil Quarmby, the general manager of Comcare said “It certainly is a lesson to all employers of the need to implement proper practices that safeguard all employees”. You can read more at www.news.com.au.

These are exactly the types of situations that we at HPOTS are interested in preventing, and education in the most recent safety techniques is covered in the forklift training delivered at HPOTS.  Under the proposed Work Health & Safety legislation due to be introduced on 1 January 2012, officers of a company will be required to undertake ‘due diligence’ and take ‘all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety of workers and others on site.  This may require more than simply ensuring operators have a licence, officers will need to ensure people have the operator skills and knowledge to safely perform the required tasks.