Failing to Protect Workers from Forklift Traffic Costs Company $80,000

At a packaging and tissue company’s facility, a worker was struck by a forklift carrying a large roll of paper, suffering a leg injury. He wasn’t wearing a safety vest and there were no barriers in the area to protect workers from forklift traffic. In addition, the only sign warning of vehicular traffic was posted in the facility’s gatehouse lobby. The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that materials were transported so as to protect the safety of a worker and was fined $80,000 [Cascades Canada ULC, Govt. News Release, Sept. 19, 2012].