$157,500 fine follows olive farm owner's fatal crush in the jaws of a harvesting machine
An olive harvester has been convicted and fined $157,500 in the Industrial Court of NSW following a 26 May 2023 incident where, while the man was adjusting the machine, it was inadvertently activated — the owner of the olive farm sustaining fatal injuries after being crushed by the jaws of the harvesting machine.
The olive harvester plead guilty to an offence pursuant to section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for failing to comply with his health and safety duty to other persons under section 19(2) of the Act. The judgment is published here, on the NSW Caselaw website. The man has the right to appeal against his sentence.
“Risk control measures for working with moving plant and fixed machinery are well known. Being injured or killed when working with moving plant and fixed machinery are preventable hazards we see across our State and across all industries,” said SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer.
“Preventing injuries caused by mobile plant, vehicles or fixed machinery is an area for action in SafeWork NSW’s regulatory priorities this year,” Schorer added. “Having an awareness and assessment of the risks, along with implementation of safe systems of work, is key to reducing the number of incidents related to moving plant and fixed machinery.”
Resources to help business owners and workers manage the risks of working with plant, machinery and equipment are available here, via the SafeWork NSW website.
Toll Transport fined $807,500 over crowbar and conveyor machine serious injuries
The crowbar was being used by the worker to dislodge a pallet that was stuck on a conveyor...
Heavy plant component uncontrolled movement lands $810K fine
The incident occurred when a heavy plant component known as a Roman Shield moved, struck and...
Cleanaway charged over fatal truck and compactor crush at Sydney tip
Listed for mention on 20 October, the Category 2 offence charge under the WHS Act carries a...
