24/09/2025
Business owners have a legal and moral responsibility to ensure all forklift operators are properly licensed. Turning a blind eye puts lives at risk — most workplace forklift injuries and fatalities happen when untrained staff are behind the wheel. Invest in safety and compliance by enrolling your team in certified forklift training today.
Custom Bus Group Pty Ltd has been fined $170,000 in the District Court of NSW as a result of a prosecution by SafeWork NSW.
On 2 May 2022, a forklift being operated by a worker collided with metal parts, tipping over. The worker fell with the forklift, which landed on its side.
Custom Bus Group pleaded guilty to an offence pursuant to section 33 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) for failing to comply with its duty under section 19(1) of the Act.
The Court found managers, at least one supervisor and some workers were aware the worker regularly used the forklift without holding a high-risk work license to operate forklift trucks. They failed to prevent the worker from operating the forklift and to discipline him for using it when he was unlicenced to do so.
The Court also noted workers, including managers and supervisors, did not know the identity of workers who held the relevant high risk work licence to operate forklift trucks, and/or who were authorised to operate the forklift as part of their job function.
Custom Bus Group Pty Ltd has the right to appeal against the sentence.
For more information on managing the risks of working with plant, machinery and equipment visit: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/hazards-a-z/machinery-and-equipment
