LOCAL NEWS
April 3, 2025 – South Australia, Australia
A South Australian potato company, Mitolo Group, has been fined $180,000 after an employee was severely injured in a forklift incident.
The South Australian Employment Tribunal handed down the fine in March, following charges laid by SafeWork SA. Mitolo Group was found guilty of breaching section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act for not effectively separating forklift operations from pedestrian zones within their facility.
According to SafeWork SA, the incident occurred in May 2022 at Mitolo’s potato processing plant located in Penfield Gardens. A worker had parked his forklift near a pedestrian walkway in the ‘specials’ area and stepped away briefly to grab some gloves. At that moment, another employee reversed a second forklift, accidentally striking and pinning the worker between the two forklifts.
The injured employee suffered severe injuries, including a crushed pelvis, spinal fractures, and significant internal injuries.
SafeWork SA’s investigation concluded that Mitolo had failed to designate a proper safe stopping zone for forklifts in the area where the accident occurred. Additionally, the investigation found the company lacked clear procedures and safety measures for managing the movement and positioning of workers and forklifts in that space.
Mitolo Group has since made considerable improvements, including revising and enhancing their traffic management plans at the facility.
Alongside the fine, Mitolo Group received a formal conviction and is required to pay an additional $424 Victims of Crime Levy, plus $3,410 toward the legal expenses incurred by SafeWork SA.