Horticulture Safety Crackdown: Dozens of NSW Operators Put on Notice

The Minns Labor Government has intensified its enforcement focus on labour hire firms and agribusinesses that expose workers to harm, with a recent SafeWork NSW compliance blitz uncovering more than 40 work health and safety breaches across the State's horticulture industry.

Two targeted operations in the NSW Riverina and Coffs Harbour regions saw SafeWork NSW inspectors attend farms, packhouses and other horticulture businesses to identify WHS risks associated with labour hire arrangements and complex supply chains, and to verify that appropriate WHS management systems and policies were in place.

In Coffs Harbour, an eight-day compliance campaign conducted ahead of the berry picking season involved inspections at 28 businesses. Inspectors issued 34 notices in total, comprising 29 improvement notices and 5 prohibition notices that required immediate action to control serious safety risks.

In the Riverina, SafeWork NSW partnered with the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) for a two-day joint operation involving 32 businesses. SIRA authorised officers checked workers compensation insurance coverage and compared workplace injury registers with workers compensation claims to identify gaps in reporting and coverage.

During the Riverina operation, SafeWork NSW inspectors issued 16 improvement notices, addressing hazards such as moving plant, unsafe electrical installations and the management of hazardous chemicals. These types of risks should be managed through robust WHS management systems, clearly defined policies and documented safe work procedures, such as Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) for high-risk tasks.

SafeWork NSW and SIRA are now reviewing the findings of both blitzes and are considering further regulatory action where significant non-compliance has been identified. This may include penalty notices and premium recovery measures for employers who have failed to meet their workers compensation obligations.

The coordinated enforcement effort highlights the ongoing collaboration between SafeWork NSW and SIRA to protect vulnerable workers in the horticulture sector, many of whom are engaged through labour hire and may be at greater risk of exploitation or unsafe conditions.

SafeWork NSW has also confirmed it will share relevant findings with federal regulators and law enforcement agencies where appropriate. This follows amendments to the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025, which commenced in July 2026, enabling SafeWork NSW to enter into formal information-sharing arrangements with prescribed Commonwealth bodies, strengthening cross-jurisdictional enforcement.

Minister for Work Health and Safety and Industrial Relations, Sophie Cotsis, reaffirmed the Government's stance on worker protection, stating that there is zero tolerance for the exploitation of workers and that every worker has the right to a safe workplace and access to their lawful entitlements. She emphasised that the volume of compliance notices issued should serve as a clear warning to non-compliant operators that they are on notice and that serious consequences will follow if they continue to put workers at risk.

The Minister also noted that, as the Government considers options for a Labour Hire Licensing Scheme, it is actively consulting with industry and unions through initiatives such as the yearly Farm Safety Roundtables and the annual Construction Round Table to improve safety outcomes and regulatory oversight.

SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer highlighted the complexity of managing work health and safety in the horticulture sector, noting that it often requires a coordinated regulatory approach across multiple state and federal agencies. She reinforced that SafeWork NSW and SIRA play a critical preventative role through ongoing oversight of WHS compliance and the workers compensation scheme.

Commissioner Schorer stated that the results of the recent operations demonstrate that, while enforcement activity is ongoing and active, there remains substantial work to be done to ensure all horticulture workers in New South Wales have access to healthy and safe workplaces. She underscored SafeWork NSW's commitment to driving sustained improvements in safety standards across the sector.

SIRA Acting Chief Executive Samantha Taylor described the workers compensation scheme as a fundamental safety net for NSW workers, providing vital support and compensation when injuries occur. She stressed that strong collaboration between SIRA and SafeWork NSW is essential to holding employers accountable for providing a safe work environment, minimising the likelihood of injury, and supporting effective return-to-work outcomes where incidents do occur.

For horticulture businesses and labour hire providers, this enforcement activity underscores the importance of having a comprehensive WHS management system, documented policies and procedures, and task-specific SWMS to manage high-risk activities. Resources to support the development of compliant WHS management systems and policies are available from specialist providers such as BlueSafe, helping businesses align with legislative requirements and protect their workers.