One of the Northern Territory’s largest councils has been charged over a near-drowning incident, after a weed harvester capsized on a lake, trapping a worker underneath.
Key points:
- A City of Palmerston worker was injured after an amphibious weed harvester they were operating tipped and capsized in 2020
- NT WorkSafe has charged the City of Palmerston with nine breaches of workplace health and safety laws
- The maximum penalty for the combined breaches is a more than $7 million fine
The City of Palmerston — east of Darwin — has been charged by NT WorkSafe with nine counts of breaching the Northern Territory’s workplace health and safety laws and regulations in relation to the February 2020 incident, including four counts of failing to comply with its duty of care .
If found guilty of all charges, the council could be fined up to $7 million.
In a statement, NT WorkSafe said the council worker and a colleague had been taking it in turns using the amphibious weed harvester to clear and remove weeds from a lake in Durack, when the craft had tipped over and capsized.
The worker was briefly trapped underneath the harvester before escaping, but sustained injuries.
“NT WorkSafe will allege that the City of Palmerston failed to follow all the manufacturer’s safety recommendations, which were provided during the purchase of the craft,” WorkSafe NT said.
“One of the recommendation not followed, was when the City of Palmerston modified the craft by installing a crocodile cage, without first consulting with the manufacturer on how this modification would affect the craft’s stability and safety during operation.”
The case is due to come before Darwin Local Court on Monday, August 29.
The City of Palmerston declined to comment.
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