$275,000 fine after death of farm worker

One of Australia's largest cotton, rice and wheat growers has been fined $275,000 by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission following the death of a worker.

The farm worker suffered horrific neck injuries while performing routine maintenance on a rake machine at the company's Gundaline Station, and died three weeks later.

The Sydney-registered Twynam Investments Pty Ltd, pleaded guilty to breaching the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 by failing to provide a safe system of work and to ensure the health and safety of its employees.

In handing down the judgement, Justice Kavanagh said "there was a total absence of any system of work; the rake machine was left unguarded with dangerous moving parts; no risk assessment was conducted, and no specific information or training had been given to the worker.

Unionsafe Safety Watchdog Mary Yaager and WorkCover CEO, Jon Blackwell, commented: "The tragic death of this farm worker could have been avoided if the employer had taken the time to identify the hazards created by the unguarded machine and developed steps to control the risks.

"This should also have involved appropriate training of the worker," they said.

"This process is not complex and WorkCover has produced a 15-minute Farm Safety Checklist, available on http://unionsafe.labor.net.au/, as a tool to help the farming community to improve safety," they said.

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:38 EST