A NSW District Court has handed down a record fine of $2.025 million after a tree removal company failed to provide adequate protection to a worker who was killed while operating a woodchipper.   

The court heard that the 40-year-old man had been employed by A1 Arbor Tree Services last September to remove trees from a local school ground when he was fatally injured.  

The ruling says A1 Arbor failed to complete a risk assessment of the defective item and that the workplace environment featured poor supervision and improper training .   

A1 Arbor pleaded guilty to failing to comply with safety obligations under the Workers Health and Safety Act 2011.   

NSW Work Health and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis says the “landmark conviction” puts industries across the state “on notice”.   

“This is yet another shocking fatality that was completely unavoidable,” Ms Cotsis said.   

“The lives of workers must be priority number one. No excuses, no exceptions.   

“My heart goes out to the family and friends of this 40-year-old worker who didn’t make it home.”