08:54 am, Saturday 4 September, 2010

A metal products manufacturer has been convicted by a Melbourne magistrate over a fatal forklift accident.

In 2008, a 60-year-old worker fell over after being hit by a forklift. His head then hit the concrete.

He was later found unconscious at work. He died in the hospital two days later.

WorkSafe’s Trevor Martin said the work site had no qualified first aider.

He also said “the company failed to call an ambulance or seek first aid for the worker.”

“The only staff member with first aid training was certified in 1984, and wasn’t alerted until it was too late.”

Magistrate Andrew Capell said the company’s failure to seek first aid was “outrageous.”

The company was fined $163,500.

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know