Training and induction

In SafeWork NSW v Saveba Pty Ltd (2025), a furniture and homewares retailer pleaded guilty to breaching its obligations under section 19(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and was fined $390,000 following an incident revealing a failure to properly induct and train its workers.

The retailer operated a warehouse in which labour hire workers were engaged. One worker was required to operate an electric pallet rider to transport warehouse materials as part of his role. During his onboarding, the worker received ad-hoc instruction on operating the pallet rider, but otherwise was not provided with extensive training for the work he would be undertaking, nor a discussion of the risks and control measures in place.

On the date of the incident, the worker and a colleague were instructed to use electric pallet riders to load a shipping container. The worker and colleague were operating their pallet riders in reverse when they began heading directly towards each other. Upon noticing the risk of a collision, they each attempted to swerve – but swerved in the same direction, causing the platforms of their pallet riders to collide. At the time, the worker had one foot extended in front of his platform. When the other pallet rider made contact, it crushed his right foot, causing a compound fracture. His injury ultimately led to the amputation of his right leg below the knee.

Neither the worker nor his colleague had been provided with the appropriate training to operate the machine. Their informal instruction from other workers was not documented or verified by a supervisor, and their competency was never assessed or documented.

Since the incident, the retailer has developed and implemented several training modules for new workers to complete during onboarding. This includes location-specific courses for warehouse workers. 

In Leucaena Chop Pty Ltd (2018), a short-term casual employee of a tree harvesting services provider, Leucaena Chop, was performing work to harvest trees with a modified cane fertiliser-spreading machine.

The employee was operating the machine in the paddock when it became bogged. The employee asked the property owner for help.

The property owner attempted to unbog the machine by towing it with a chain attached to a tractor.

The machine remained bogged, so the employee attached a snatch strap to both the tractor and the machine. However, the employee attached the snatch strap to the wrong connection point on the tractor and did not attach anti-recoil safety straps. When the property owner attempted to debog the machine with the snatch strap, the tow hitch of the machine broke off and was slung at great force through the back window of the tractor, striking the seat from which the property owner was driving the tractor. He was thrown forward off his seat and suffered severe injuries.

The company was charged with a failure to ensure safety, including a failure to provide proper training. The company pleaded guilty to a Category 2 breach of its primary duty under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) in exposing an individual to a risk of serious injury. The company was fined $104,000 and ordered to pay costs of $1596.15.