JBS Australia fined $330,000 after forklift severely injures worker
04 Nov 2025•BlueSafe Team•Source: SafeWork NSW
JBS Australia Pty Ltd has been convicted and fined $330,000 in the District Court of NSW after a worker was struck by a forklift in a chilled storage area for processed meat.
The SafeWork NSW prosecution followed an incident on 14 July 2022. The worker sustained severe injuries to his left leg when he was hit by the forklift.
JBS Australia pleaded guilty to an offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), having failed to meet its duty to workers under section 19(1). The company has the right to appeal its sentence, and the full judgment is available on the NSW Caselaw website.
Injuries involving mobile plant, vehicles and fixed machinery, including forklifts, remain among the leading causes of traumatic injuries and deaths in NSW workplaces.
SafeWork NSW’s 2025–26 regulatory priorities include protecting workers who operate heavy machinery and those working near mobile plant, vehicles or fixed machinery. The regulator’s website provides resources for business owners and workers on managing forklift risks.
SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer said forklifts continued to contribute to workplace deaths and injuries each year, with substantial human and financial costs for workers, industry and the community. She encouraged businesses using mobile plant, vehicles or fixed machinery to use SafeWork NSW’s guides and resources to help protect employees.
Workers concerned about health and safety at work can contact SafeWork anonymously on 13 10 50 or through the Speak Up Save Lives website.
How Blue Safe can help: Our free WHS self-check can help you review your business’s approach to workplace health and safety and identify areas that may need attention. Take the free WHS self-check