A1 Arbor Tree Services NSW has been fined for the death of a worker who was dragged by a faulty logging machine
A tree removal company has been fined more than $2 million for the death of a worker killed while using a faulty logging machine.
The fine is the single largest court-imposed penalty for a business in NSW.
Work Health and Safety Minister Sophie Kotsis said the record fines and landmark convictions ‘put everyone across NSW on notice’.
A1 Arbor Tree Services Pty Ltd was found guilty and fined $2.025m in the NSW District Court on Friday over the death of a Fijian man killed while using a woodchipper at a Lindfield school north of Sydney nearly four years ago.
The court heard that on September 7, 2019, workers were removing trees when the 40-year-old man died after being accidentally pulled over by a wood chipper.
A logging company has been fined a record $2 million after a worker was killed while using a logging machine in Sydney.
The court heard A1 had not carried out a risk assessment of the Arbor equipment, which had a number of faults.
The court also heard that there was little supervision over the workers and that the workers were not trained to operate the equipment.
The company pleaded guilty to failing to comply with its safety obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act.
Sentencing, Judge Wendy Sue Strathdee noted that the potential harm to the worker was extreme and the penalty imposed was appropriate.
A1 Arbor has the right to appeal the decision and AAP has been contacted for feedback.
Ms Kotsis said the ‘shocking’ death was ‘completely avoidable’.
‘My heart goes out to the family and friends of this 40-year-old worker who didn’t make it home.
“Workers’ lives must be prioritized first. No excuses, no exceptions.’