Woolworths Faces Charges Over Accident Involving Forklift and Motorcyclist

By James Elton

Topic: Workplace Accidents

Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 3:11 pm

Woolworths is facing charges for not keeping people safe at work. The company might have to pay up to $4.5 million. Woolworths did not keep a motorcyclist safe.

In short:

Woolworths is in trouble for not keeping people safe at work. One of its workers was driving a forklift and hit a motorcycle on a public road.

The person on the motorcycle got very hurt and had to go to the hospital. Woolworths did not do its job to keep people safe.

What's next?

The court case will happen in September. If Woolworths is found guilty, it might have to pay $4.5 million. The company could get in big trouble.

Woolworths is in trouble for being careless. A forklift hit a motorcycle on a public road near a store.

The motorcycle rider got very hurt and had to go to the hospital. This happened in a town called Katherine, which is 300 kilometers from Darwin.

The forklift driver was trying to cross the road behind the store. A delivery truck was coming into the store at the same time.

There are pictures of a red motorcycle on the ground and a forklift nearby. The rider was put into an ambulance on a stretcher.

The motorcycle rider got very hurt and had to go to the hospital. This happened in July last year.

Woolworths is facing four charges. If found guilty, the company might have to pay $4.5 million.

Companies have to make sure people are safe, even if they are not their workers. They have to follow safety rules.

Companies also have to make sure machines are used safely.

If a company is found guilty, it might have to pay a fine. Some of the money might go to the person who got hurt.

The case was talked about in court and will continue in September.

Woolworths says it takes workplace safety very seriously.

See more news from ABC.

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