Hutchinson enters $1.04 million undertaking after forklift incident

On Thursday 17 April, the Dromana Magistrates’ Court heard that J Hutchinson Builders Pty Ltd, trading as Hutchinson Builders, had entered into the undertaking while facing one charge of failing to ensure a workplace under its management and control was safe and without risks to health. WorkSafe may reinstate the charge if the undertaking is breached or withdrawn.

The incident occurred in August 2022 at the company’s construction site at Rosebud Plaza. A truck driver employed by another company was delivering three large electrical switchboards, with assistance from his 21-year-old son.

The son was standing on the truck’s tray removing straps when a forklift hit the unsecured load. He and a switchboard fell 1.6 metres to the ground.

The court heard that the 770 kilogram switchboard landed on his head and torso. His life-threatening injuries included skull, facial and multiple other fractures, brain damage and facial nerve palsy. He was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition and has partially recovered, but continues to experience physical and emotional impacts.

WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said managing interactions between vehicles, mobile plant and pedestrians was crucial to addressing loading and unloading risks.

“Forklifts should never operate in spaces that pedestrians can access without strict safety procedures in place, that includes making sure that anyone who enters the workplace understands and adheres to these processes,” Mr Jenkin said.

“In this case, following an appropriate traffic management plan would have prevented the horrific set of circumstances that led to a young man suffering such shocking and traumatic injuries.”

How Blue Safe can help: For businesses undertaking high-risk construction work involving mobile plant, our free SWMS tool can help document task hazards and safety controls. Create a free SWMS