Farm operator charge following workplace fatality

WorkSafe has charged the operator of a Gippsland farm after a worker died while operating a bale wrapper in November 2024.

A 66-year-old farm operator has been charged following the death of a worker in a workplace incident involving a plastic wrapping machine.

The charges relate to the death of a 47-year-old woman who suffered fatal injuries while carrying out maintenance work on the machine.

According to WorkSafe, the woman was repairing or replacing a roll of plastic film when she accessed the machine's danger area.

The farm operator faces four charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. These include two charges of failing to ensure that people were not exposed to health and safety risks arising from the conduct of his undertaking, and two charges of failing to ensure that a workplace under his management or control was safe and without risks to health.

WorkSafe alleges the operator failed to reduce the risk of serious injury or death by not ensuring that the machine's interlocked physical barrier remained operational. The barrier was designed to prevent access to the machine's danger area while it was operating.

It is further alleged that the operator failed to engage a suitably qualified person to ensure the machine's interlock sensor was functioning as intended.

WorkSafe also alleges that adequate measures were not taken to ensure the machine was isolated before the worker commenced the task.

The matter was listed for a filing hearing at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court today - June 17, 2026.