Construction firm fined $55,000 after untrained forklift operation leads to serious injury (Saskatchewan)

A Saskatchewan construction firm has been fined $55,000 following a 2021 workplace incident in which a worker was seriously injured while operating a forklift without proper training, according to reporting by CTV News.

The Saskatchewan Provincial Court issued the penalty on Oct. 27 after the company was found guilty of breaching occupational health and safety requirements. Regulators said the violation involved failing to ensure that only trained operators are permitted to operate mobile equipment.

The total fine consists of a $39,286.71 penalty plus a $15,713.29 surcharge, adding up to $55,000. The case stems from a Sept. 2, 2021 incident at a facility in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Training can’t be assumed

Forklifts and other mobile equipment leave no room for “learning on the job.” Training and authorization must be verified before operation—every time. When training is taken for granted, the outcome can be predictable: serious harm, operational disruption, and costly penalties.

Possible Forklift Accidents (What can go wrong on site)

Forklifts are involved in a predictable set of high-risk incidents—especially where pedestrians, tight spaces, uneven ground, and time pressure overlap. Common accident types include:

• Pedestrian struck-by incidents (most often during reversing, turning, or when visibility is blocked by the load)

• Caught-between / pinning injuries (a worker pinned between the forklift and a wall, vehicle, racking, or the load)

• Tip-overs / rollovers (sharp turns, uneven ground, soft shoulders, ramps/slopes, or travelling with an elevated load)

• Dropped or shifting loads (poorly secured pallets, off-centre loads, overloading, or sudden braking causing the load to fall)

• Collision with structures or equipment (doors, columns, scaffolds, temporary barriers, stored materials—often due to tight manoeuvring and blind spots)

• Falls from docks/edges or into excavations (operating near loading bays, trench edges, or unprotected drop-offs)

• Contact with overhead hazards (striking overhead doors/beam lines, or in outdoor work—dangerous proximity to overhead powerlines)

• Mounting/dismounting slips and falls (jumping off, three-point contact not used, icy/muddy footwear)

• Mechanical failure incidents (brake/steering issues, worn tires, faulty forks/attachments—made worse when pre-use checks are skipped)