The backhoe at the scene of the incident in December 2022. Photo: NSW Safework

WORKPLACE health and safety regulator SafeWork NSW has laid charges against large-scale agricultural enterprise P&J Harris and Sons over the death of a worker at a property in western New South Wales.

The 28-year-old employee suffered fatal injuries while working at a cotton operation near Carinda, south-west of Walgett, on 29 December 2022.

The man was operating a backhoe when it slid approximately two metres into a culvert and landed on its side.

He was ejected from the machine and pinned under the cabin structure.

A spokesperson for SafeWork said the charges have been laid against the six companies comprising the P&J Harris and Sons farming partnership “for allegedly failing to comply with their duties under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (the Act)”.

The charges are:

“Peter Harris and Jane Harris, as directors, for allegedly failing to ensure the companies complied with their work health and safety duties,” the spokesperson said.

“Jack Harris, for allegedly failing to comply with his duties as a worker under the Act.”

The case is listed before the Industrial Court on June 23.

In a release published after the incident, SafeWork NSW recommended farm operators “consider reasonably practicable control measures to manage the risks associated with the use of farm machinery and isolated or remote work”.

These measures could involve assessing sites for potential hazards, ensuring systems are in place for remote or isolated work, providing appropriate worker training, and fitting and using safety devices on machinery.

P&J Harris and Sons is one of Australia’s largest cotton operations with a portfolio including several properties in northern NSW and more than one million hectares of mixed farming land in Queensland’s Gulf of Carpentaria.

Farm deaths, injuries on rise

In data released last month, AgHealth Australia reported a rise in on-farm deaths and serious injuries in 2024.

A total of 72 on-farm deaths were recorded, more than double the 32 reported in the previous year, while injuries rose to 133 from 78 in 2023.

Of the national figures, 18 deaths and 39 serious injuries occurred on properties in New South Wales.

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