Refrigafreighters fined for forklift accident in New Zealand. News report in Forkliftaction News

A New Zealand refrigerated transport company has been fined NZD$240,000 (USD$148,000) for a forklift accident in which a worker suffered a ruptured lung and a fractured spine.

Casey Broad, national investigations director for New Zealand’s WorkSafe, said the Refrigafreighters case was a wake-up call for all companies that use forklift trucks.

“A worker had been using the forklift to collect garbage. They parked it and put the handbrake on, but when they got out, it rolled down the slope where it was parked,” Broad said in a statement.

The 33-year-old worker attempted to rescue the forklift, but was knocked over by it and suffered serious injuries.

“WorkSafe’s investigation revealed that the forklift had not been serviced and maintained as we expected,” says Broad.

“We asked specialists to look into it and what they found was shocking: there were serious safety problems with the handbrake, so great that it would not have been able to stop the forklift even on a slight incline.”

Refrigafreighters was convicted in the Manukau District Court on 7 May. The company was fined NZD240,000 and ordered to pay NZD62,279 (USD38,370) in damages for breaching the Workplace Health and Safety Act.

The maximum penalty is NZD 1.5 million (USD 974,000).

“Companies need to ensure that forklifts and other vehicles and machinery can be used safely,” says Broad.

“If companies fail to meet their health and safety obligations, WorkSafe will hold them to account.”

“Many companies use forklifts, but like any vehicle, they need to be serviced and maintained so that problems are identified and fixed early. If you don’t, things can quickly go wrong.”

“Unfortunately, there are too many forklift accidents in New Zealand. Companies can do more to keep people safe.”