Springvale Shopping Centre fined $60,000 for safety breach
A woman suffered broken ribs when crushed between a forklift load and a stationary pallet in a shared loading bay.
Springvale Shopping Centre has been fined $60,000 after a worker was crushed in the centre's shared loading bay. The incident happened in December 2023 when a woman entered the loading bay to collect vegetables while a colleague was using a forklift to move stock.
The forklift operator's vision was blocked by a 1.4-metre-high load on the tines. The forklift struck the woman, pinning her between the load and a stationary pallet.
She suffered three broken ribs and spent three days in hospital. A court found the centre's owners had control of the loading bay, knew of the risks, but failed to keep the space safe.
- $60,000
- Fine amount
- December 1, 2023
- Date of incident
- 1.4 metres
- Load height blocking vision
- 3 days
- Hospital stay
Why it mattersShared workplace spaces without proper traffic controls put workers at serious risk; courts hold owners responsible for safety failures.
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