SafeWork prosecutes cotton company following death of farm worker

SafeWork Prosecutes Cotton Company Following Death of Farm Worker

An agricultural company is facing prosecution following a fatal work-related incident in western NSW, and remains subject to a separate investigation regarding the unrelated death of another employee at its Carinda cotton-farming operation.

SafeWork NSW has commenced prosecution in response to the fatal incident involving a 28-year-old man in December 2022, marking a significant workplace safety enforcement action against the sons farming partnership behind the business.

What Happened During the Farm Death

The man sustained fatal injuries when the backhoe he was driving slipped over two metres into a culvert and toppled onto its side.

SafeWork said the worker was thrown from the machine and became trapped beneath the cabin. He died after sustaining injuries consistent with heavy machinery rollovers, a hazard well documented across farming operations nationwide.

Charges Filed Against Cotton Farm Operators

SafeWork NSW has begun legal proceedings, filing a total of nineteen charges against three individuals and their affiliated farming partnership companies for allegedly neglecting to fulfil work health and safety obligations owed to contractors and employees.

Health and safety regulators across Australia continue to pursue similar action where employers fail to manage machinery risks. Comparable cases have seen a mining maintenance firm charged following a worker's death in WA and a Vic recycling facility face charges following worker death, reflecting a broader enforcement trend across high-risk industries.

Why This Matters for Workplace Safety

Farming remains among the highest-risk sectors for fatal incidents involving heavy vehicles and machinery. Employers operating in this space carry clear health and safety duties under work health legislation, and breaches carry serious consequences.

Businesses managing vehicle fleets or mobile plant should review their company vehicle policy to ensure operational risks are properly controlled, alongside maintaining accurate first aid worker registers to support rapid emergency response.

• Nineteen charges filed against three individuals and affiliated companies
• Incident involved a backhoe rollover into a culvert
• Worker died after being trapped beneath the cabin
• SafeWork NSW investigation remains ongoing into a second, unrelated death

Similar enforcement outcomes, such as an ACT company fined following a crane death, highlight how regulators nationwide are prioritising accountability for preventable workplace fatalities.

For further coverage of this ongoing case, continue reading the full report via ABC News. Stay informed on the latest workplace safety news and prosecution outcomes by following updates from SafeWork NSW and other state regulators.