WORKSAFE Victoria inspector Roger Parry-Jones claims forklift incidents cost tens of millions of dollars in insurance claims, fines, and compensation payouts.
According to his article in Industry Uplift magazine, forklifts have killed 56 Victorians and injured thousands in the past two decades.
In the five years from 2000, more than 500 forklift safety incidents were reported to WorkSafe Victoria, but Parry-Jones says this likely represents less than 10% of forklift incidents requiring notification under Victorian workplace safety laws.
Occupational health and safety laws require employers to report all incidents that expose workers to the risk of injury even if no-one was hurt.
These may include forklift tipovers, fuel cell fires, pallet racking collapse after impacts, dropped loads and crashes into roller doors or other mobile plant.
Parry-Jones says the proper level of incident reporting is not happening and employees are still at an unacceptable level of risk from forklifts operated unsafely or in unsatisfactory conditions and locations.
Parry-Jones added that forklift drivers and all those involved in their operation must exercise responsibility and due diligence by referring to technical standards, guidance and legislation to fulfil their obligations.
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