He overcame the injury to compete in the Paralympics as a power lifter and on a handcycle in the New York Marathon.

The latest available figures from SafeWork NSW show 1360 workers were injured in forklift truck incidents in two years from July 2012 to July 2014.

Figures for fatalities including the past 12 months show there have been eight deaths in the past three years, prompting the state government to issue a work safety warning.

The Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, Victor Dominello, said workplace safety needs to be the ‘‘number one priority for every business’’. 

SafeWork NSW has produced a new safety video, traffic management advice and is offering businesses rebates of up to $500 to implement safety improvements.

Traffic management plans include separating pedestrians from forklifts, using barriers and pedestrian walkways.

‘‘Workplace incidents involving forklifts often result in serious injuries and operators need to be conscious of pedestrians at all times,’’ Mr Dominello said. ‘‘We want all workers to return home safely to their families at the end of each day.’’

Mr Puru, of Fassifern, represented Australia at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics and in 2004 completed the New York Marathon on a handcycle.

He was placed seventh at the Paralympics after lifting 207.5kilograms.

He was working as an industrial cleaner in 1993 when he was struck by a forklift that collected him and dragged him on the ground after he stepped out of his truck.

‘‘I was coming towards the end of a 13-hour shift and I was on an industrial site where I couldn’t see the forklift and he couldn’t see me,’’ Mr Puru said.

‘‘I think forklift drivers need to be more aware of their surroundings. I don’t think a lot of them realise they have a job that can cause injuries.’’