FORBES, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA — SafeWork NSW announced on 21 October 2026 that Lawson Grains Pty Ltd had been convicted and fined A$210,000 following a generator-refuelling fire that injured a farm worker near Forbes.
The Industrial Court made its orders on 19 October, following a 6 October hearing. The workplace incident occurred on 11 December 2023. Today’s development is the regulator’s public enforcement announcement, rather than a new fire or a judgment delivered today.
Replacement generator changed the refuelling task
The court’s agreed facts describe a petrol generator used to power a grain-sampling stand at the Uah Grain Bunker Site. It replaced a broken diesel generator. The older unit was filled by a manager each morning; the petrol replacement required refuelling during the working day.
A casual farmhand was collecting and analysing grain samples when she stopped the generator and began adding petrol. A fire injured her and spread to the sample stand. The judgment records that the engine had been stopped for only a short period before refuelling.
Court identifies assessment, procedure and training gaps
Lawson Grains pleaded guilty to a category 2 offence under section 32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, concerning its section 19(1) duty to workers. The case identified failures to document the generator risk assessment and implement adequate operating procedures and practical training, including provision for sufficient cooling before refuelling.
The court imposed the A$210,000 fine and ordered prosecution costs as agreed or assessed. SafeWork states that the company has a right to appeal. The fine is an imposed court penalty, rather than a proposed regulator assessment.
HSE Blog analysis: replacing equipment requires a fresh assessment
Substituting a different fuel system can change how often equipment needs attention and who performs the task. Before a replacement enters service, supervisors should check the manufacturer’s instructions, refuelling arrangements, cooling requirements, worker training and emergency response. This case illustrates why replacement equipment should trigger a review, even when it serves the same production function.
Related reading: conducting a fire risk assessment and turning risk assessments into effective controls.
The Industrial Court judgment confirms the orders and agreed facts; SafeWork’s 21 October release confirms the announcement and appeal position. Grain Central provides specialist coverage and location context. Two primary sources and one reporting outlet were available; five independent reports were not. Court scene photographs and the outlet’s archive farm image were reviewed for relevance, but explicit reuse permission for HSE Blog was not verified. The featured artwork is illustrative.
Source
SafeWork NSW; NSW Industrial Court; Grain Centralsafework.nsw.gov.au
