Employees Can Benefit from Forklift Training and Licence
Employers can avoid heavy fines if their Employees complete adequately trained
In November 2015 a Keysborough concrete pumping contactor has been convicted and fined $500,000 after the death of a worker who was struck by a large section of tubing. The company pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to provide and maintain safe systems of work and one charge of failing to provide information, instruction, training or supervision under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. The correct Forklift Training and Licence was desperately needed in this situation.
The company was convicted and fined $250,000 for each charge.
Three workers were using a forklift to assist them with the disassembly of a 15 metre long concrete pumping component known as a `tower tube’. The tube comprised of sections which were joined with bolts and each section weighed approximately two tonnes. The incident occurred when a forklift driver was directed to lift a section of the tube, which was lying on the ground, but did not wait until the two workers on the ground were clear. The tube slid off the forklift tynes and struck a 28 year old worker, trapping him against a brick wall. He died at the scene.
The company was found to not have the correct documented safe system of work for the task, and that workers were exposed to a risk of serious injury or death as a result of the tube falling off the forklift tynes. If the workers had the right Forklift Training and Licence they would have realised that a crane should have been used for the task and not a forklift. COVE Training provides professional Forklift Training and Licence courses and White Card Construction Induction Training.
WorkSafe’s Executive Director Health and Safety, Marnie Williams, said the incident was a tragic reminder of the consequences of not having appropriate systems of work in place.
“Incidents like this just should not happen,” Ms Williams said. “Employers must ensure they have appropriate systems of work in place and that their workers are provided with the relevant information, instruction, training and supervision to enable them to carry out tasks without risking their lives.”
“Every worker should be able to go into work with the expectation that they will return home safe at the end of the day,” she said.
“The fact that a young man has lost his life is unacceptable and this sentence should serve as a reminder to all employers of their obligations to keep their workers safe.”
Forklift Training and Licence can save lives
When lifting heavy objects, measures to manage risk include:
- Selecting an appropriate piece of machinery that will allow the load to be properly secured. (Crane not Forklift)
- Designing and communicating a safe system of work that outlines how to perform the task, and ensuring it is adhered to.
- Before starting the task, checking pedestrian exclusion zones are marked and that ground surfaces are clear of obstructions.
- Ensuring the load remains under control while being lifted or suspended.
- Ensuring all workers are properly trained and competent before commencing the task.
For more information about our Forklift Training and Licence courses call COVE Training on +61387739000 today. We provide Forklift Training at Hallam.
(RTO) No. 45608
