Toll Transport: Transport company hit with huge fine after man’s legs crushed, fractured by reversing forklift

An Australian transport company has been fined $625,000 after an employee’s legs were crushed and fractured by a reversing forklift four years ago. Toll Transport Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and causing serious harm to a worker at Perth Magistrates Court on October 3. The court was told the employee — who had returned to work following a shoulder injury — was working in an area at Perth Airport where freight was being delivered and sorted in January 2021. A number of the bays were marked with a sticker which matched an identical sticker on the bay’s respective freight. On the morning of the incident, the employee — who was bending over and changing the stickers on the floor — was struck from behind by a reversing forklift, causing both of his legs to be crushed and fractured. One of his legs was also degloved, meaning the skin and tissue had torn away from the muscle and bone. The man has since had to undergo five surgeries. WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said Toll was aware of the risks associated with operating a forklift, but said it had failed to outline the boundary between where forklifts and people should be. “Safe work procedures were in place that included being aware of pedestrians, maintaining a three-metre exclusion zone and checking mirrors and over both shoulders before reversing a forklift,” she said. “However, the court found that Toll’s procedures fell short in that they should have delineated the area between forklifts and pedestrians. “It was practicable for Toll to have used barricades to keep operating forklifts out of the areas where pedestrians could be placing stickers on the ground. “Toll did implement the use of barricades after this incident, but unfortunately too late for the worker who suffered serious and lasting injuries.”