Alice Springs arborist facing charges after wood chipper injures worker

Alice Springs Arborist Facing Charges After Wood Chipper Injures Worker

An Alice Springs arborist has been charged after a worker was seriously injured by a wood chipper in November 2022. The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety practices among arborist safety procedures across the Northern Territory.

According to NT WorkSafe, workers were feeding tree branches into a wood chipper when the chipper hood detached from the machine and struck one of the workers.

What Happened During the Wood Chipper Incident

"NT WorkSafe investigation found the wood chipper was damaged almost two months earlier following a road incident," the safety watchdog said in a statement.

The safety regulator will allege that the arborist knew the machine was faulty at the time of the incident. This claim forms the basis of the charges now before the court.

Charges Laid Under Work Health and Safety Regulations

He was charged with three counts of violating workplace health and safety regulations and is due to face court this month. The case highlights how critical ongoing health and safety compliance remains for businesses operating heavy machinery like a wood chipper on site.

For employers managing similar equipment, having a documented wood chipper SWMS in place can help demonstrate due diligence and reduce risk exposure. Ensuring workers understand safe operating procedures before equipment use is a fundamental part of upholding health and safety obligations on any worksite.

Related Safety Enforcement Cases

This is not an isolated case in the sector. Readers may also be interested in the outcome of the Alice Springs arborist fined $25,000 after a wood chipper incident, along with other enforcement actions such as the Darwin company facing charges after a refuelling fireball incident and the case of two Victorian companies facing charges over a worker's death.

Key Takeaways for Employers

• Faulty equipment must be reported and repaired before further use, particularly machinery involving a wood chipper or similar cutting apparatus.
• Workplace health and safety regulations require employers to act on known hazards immediately.
• Documented safe work method statements support compliance and protect both workers and businesses.
• Regular equipment inspections form a core part of proactive safety management.

Companies managing contractors or on-site personnel should also review their worker contractor manuals and worker agreement policies to ensure health and safety expectations are clearly outlined before machinery, including any wood chipper, is deployed on a job site.

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