NSW company slapped with record fine over wood chipper death

NSW Company Slapped With Record Fine Over Wood Chipper Death

A tree removal company has been fined a record $2.025 million dollars after a worker died in a wood chipper incident in 2019. This penalty stands among the highest workplace safety fines issued in New South Wales, sending a clear message to employers across Australia about the consequences of failing to manage risk on site.

The 40-year-old man suffered fatal injuries while working for the company at a school ground in Lindfield on 7 September 2019. His death highlighted serious gaps in equipment maintenance and site supervision that safety regulators say should never occur on any worksite.

What the Court Found

The court heard that the machine was defective and no one supervised the workers at the time of the incident. This lack of oversight created significant risk for everyone on site, not just the man operating the faulty equipment.

Poor equipment upkeep combined with absent supervision represents a dangerous mix that safety professionals in construction and related industries must actively guard against. Regular inspection routines and clear supervisory responsibilities help reduce this kind of risk before it costs a life.

Penalty and Legal Outcome

The company was fined after pleading guilty to workplace safety breaches under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. This legislation sets out clear duties for employers to protect health and safety of everyone affected by their operations, including casual staff, contractors and visitors to a worksite.

For more news on this story, visit the SafeWork NSW website, a government resource providing authoritative updates on workplace safety enforcement across the state.

Why This Case Matters for Workplace Safety

This case adds to a growing body of news around fatal incidents involving heavy machinery in Australia. Similar penalties have followed other equipment-related deaths, including a record fine issued to a Darwin equipment hire company after an excavator death and a separate case where a Victorian company faced fines over a timber mill death.

Each of these incidents reinforces a consistent theme in safety news: unsupervised or poorly maintained equipment poses an ongoing risk to worker health, no matter the industry or state.

• Defective machinery must be identified and removed from service before it endangers workers.
• Supervision on site reduces risk when hazardous equipment is in use.
• Compliance with health and safety legislation is not optional — penalties for breaches can be severe.
• Regular risk assessments help employers catch equipment faults before they become fatal.

Reducing Risk With Proper Documentation

Businesses operating wood chippers or similar high-risk machinery should maintain thorough safety documentation to support safe systems of work. A Wood Chipper SWMS template outlines the specific hazards and control measures workers need to follow when operating this type of equipment, helping reduce risk of injury or death.

Keeping accurate maintenance and inspection logs also supports ongoing compliance efforts. Tools such as a Purchasing Record or a Substance Spray Record can form part of a broader documentation system that demonstrates due diligence to regulators and protects workers on the ground.

This case serves as a stark reminder that safety obligations under health and safety law exist to protect lives, not simply satisfy paperwork requirements. Employers who invest in proper equipment maintenance, supervision and documentation give their workers the best chance to live through every shift and go home safely.