Juice company and director fined $249,600 after forklift injures worker
30 June 2026•BlueSafe Team•Source: SafeWork NSW
The Real Juice Company Pty Ltd and its director, Anthony Taliano, have been convicted and fined a combined $249,600 after a worker was struck by a reversing forklift.
Following a SafeWork NSW prosecution, the Industrial Court of NSW fined The Real Juice Company Pty Ltd $240,000 and Mr Taliano $9,600.
The incident occurred on 7 November 2022 and left a worker injured. At the time, Mr Taliano was the company’s sole director, secretary and shareholder, with responsibility for the business’s day-to-day management and control.
The company pleaded guilty to an offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for failing to meet its duty to workers under section 19(1). Mr Taliano also pleaded guilty under section 32, for failing to meet his duty as an officer under section 27(1).
The Court made an adverse publicity order requiring the company to publish details of the incident and conviction in The Area News, a local newspaper in Griffith. Both the company and Mr Taliano have the right to appeal their sentences. The full judgments are available on the NSW Caselaw website.
SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer said the controls for risks involving moving plant and fixed machinery were well known. She described workers being struck by moving plant or vehicles, or injured while working with fixed machinery, as preventable hazards occurring across NSW and across industries.
Ms Schorer said preventing injuries involving mobile plant, vehicles and fixed machinery was an area for action under SafeWork NSW’s regulatory priorities. She said understanding and assessing risks, together with implementing safe systems of work, was key to reducing incidents involving moving plant.
Workers with workplace health and safety concerns can contact SafeWork anonymously on 13 10 50 or through the Speak Up Save Lives website.
SafeWork NSW’s website also provides resources for business owners and workers to help manage risks associated with plant, machinery and equipment.
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