Significant health and safety fine after customer injured in a store …

Worksafe investigated a serious health and safety breach where a customer was struck by a forklift while waiting in a collection area of a store to pick up her ordered goods. She sustained severe injuries to her leg which had to be amputated below the knee.

Worksafe found that the store did not have an effective traffic management plan to keep pedestrians safe from moving vehicles. Additionally, the forklift which struck the customer did not have functioning lights.

Worksafe stated the store could have implemented several measures to keep people safe and prevent accidents such as one-way systems, barriers, designated crossing points, speed bumps, and signage.

The store was fined $350,000 and ordered to pay reparations of $141,502.