Recycling company fined $472,500 over fatal grinder incident
06 May 2026•BlueSafe Team•Source: SafeWork NSW
Northwest Recycling Centre Pty Ltd has been fined $472,500 after a worker was fatally injured while trying to clear a blockage in a green waste grinder.
The District Court of NSW imposed the fine following a prosecution brought by SafeWork NSW.
The incident occurred on 8 July 2022. The worker was attempting to clear a blockage in a Van Gelder Green Waste Grinder from inside its feed chute when they were fatally injured.
Northwest Recycling Centre Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to an offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), having failed to meet its duty to workers under section 19(1). The company has the right to appeal the sentence.
SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer said risk controls for moving plant and fixed machinery were well known. She identified preventing injuries involving mobile plant, vehicles and fixed machinery as an area for action under SafeWork NSW's regulatory priorities.
“Having an awareness and assessment of the risks, along with implementation of safe systems of work, is key to reducing the number of incidents related to moving plant,” Ms Schorer said.
Ms Schorer also reminded businesses of their duty to protect workers when they work with plant, machinery and equipment.
Workers can raise workplace health and safety concerns anonymously with SafeWork on 13 10 50 or through the Speak Up Save Lives website. Resources for managing plant, machinery and equipment risks are available on the SafeWork NSW website, while the full judgment is available on NSW Caselaw.
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