Pallet jack and forklift collision delivers meaty fine

A substantial penalty of $200,000 is a costly reminder of the importance of traffic management systems, with a Victorian manufacturer fined for failing to provide a safe working environment after an employee was struck by a reversing forklift.

The incident

D’Orsogna Limited is a small goods manufacturer of cured meats (among other things), which are then distributed to supermarkets across Australia. At the food manufacturing warehouse, employees are required to use a pallet jack to package and move cold meats to the chiller room.

On 29 April 2023, an employee was using a pallet jack to unload the cured meats in the chiller room. As the employee was reversing the pallet jack, they collided with a second employee, who was reversing a forklift. The employee did not hear the reverse sound or see the reverse beacon from the forklift.

Charge and sentencing

D’Orsogna was charged with failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment that was without risks to its workers.

The Court heard that D’Orsogna:

had no physical controls, such as barriers, bollards or marked walkways, in place to separate pedestrians and powered mobile plant in the chiller room;
had induction materials that superficially discussed the dangers of forklift operation in the workplace;
did not provide instruction or training in the safe use of forklifts in the workplace; and
had a traffic management plan that failed to address any risks associated with the collision of forklifts in the chiller room.

D’Orsogna pleaded guilty, was convicted and fined $200,000.

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