Workplace incident leaves employee with a skull fracture
A company supplying books, stationery, and other educational resources to Australian schools has been slapped with a $70,000 fine after an employee suffered a workplace injury in 2021.
According to the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, the employee, who worked casually for around three months, was alone in the warehouse at the time of the incident and was operating a forklift and loading empty pallets on a racking system.
While doing this, some unsecured pallets weighing around 35 kilograms fell from a height of almost six metres with one hitting the top of the victim's head.
The incident left him with a fractured skull and hospitalised over a week. This also left him unable to work for an extended period, according to the media release.
While the employee held an appropriate license, the probe found that the company did not carry out a risk assessment for using the forklift and there was no safety procedure for it, including the moving and storing of pallets on a racking system.
The company has acknowledged its faults in exposing workers to death or serious injury, according to the release, and has since implemented a safe operating procedure for the storage of items in the pallet racking.
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In her decision, Acting Magistrate Sue Ganasan pointed out the lack of protocol on handling empty pallets, but also noted the steps taken after the incident.
According to the media release, Ganasan considered in the sentencing the early guilty plea from the company, as well as the absence of prior WHS convictions. The acting magistrate also took into account that the family-owned company co-operated with the investigations, while also showing remorse and continuing to support and employ the victim.
The company pleaded guilty in the Holland Park Magistrates Court for violating the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, and was handed a $70,000 fine, in addition to court costs of $1,600.
