Real Juice Company fined after forklift crushes worker’s toes

Incident Overview

The Real Juice Company and its sole director were fined after a reversing forklift struck worker Grace Poletta at the company’s Griffith site in New South Wales. The ABC reported the Industrial Relations Commission outcome on 26 June 2026.

The incident occurred in November 2022 and was described as the third forklift incident at the site. The source reported the court’s findings and orders without requiring any broader conclusion beyond the decided case.

Workplace, Location and Time

The incident occurred at the Real Juice Company in Griffith, in the NSW Riverina. The source identified November 2022 as the incident month but did not state the exact day or time. Ms Poletta worked as a quality-assurance officer.

Worker and Incident Details

The ABC reported that Ms Poletta was hit by a forklift travelling in reverse. The Industrial Relations Commission heard that the 2022 event followed earlier forklift incidents at the site, including a 2012 incident involving serious crush injuries. The additional events are context and not part of the worker’s individual injury.

Injuries or Fatality

All five toes on Ms Poletta’s left foot were amputated. She later described swelling, discomfort, sleep problems and restrictions on running, kneeling and day-to-day activities. No fatality was reported.

Emergency and Regulator Response

The sentencing hearing heard that the company later spent nearly $56,000 on a traffic-management plan, floor markings, bollards and guardrails, and engaged an external safety consultant. General information for people affected by a workplace injury is available from workers compensation lawyers.

Investigation or Court Update

Justice Jane Paingakulam fined the Real Juice Company $240,000 and its sole director and shareholder, Anthony Taliano, $9,600 for breaches of the Work Health and Safety Act. The company was also ordered to publish a notice about the incident and pay prosecution costs. Those are the court orders reported by the ABC.

Sources

• ABC News — Real Juice Company and owner fined $250k over forklift accident (26 June 2026)