Safety at Work

A constant issue for businesses.

A farm operator in rural NSW has been fined $180,000 after a worker fell off a motorbike while mustering sheep and died from injuries. 

KD & JT Westbrookweresentenced at the District Court of NSW on 19 February 2019for failing in its duty to ensure the health and safety of workers.

A20-year-old worker was contracted to muster sheep on a rural property in northwest NSW known as Lake Stewart Station.  The manwas riding his motorcycle  in a paddock to muster sheep with another worker when they saw two dingoes.  The worker pursued one of the dingoes but fell from the motorcycle and was fatally injuredsuffering fractures to the skull.  He wasnotwearing a helmet.

The company was found guilty of the offence after the court found that chasing dingoes was part of the mustering work.  The Court found that  KD & JT Westbrook exposed its worker to the risk of serious injury or death and failed in its duty under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.