Western Australia has recorded another workplace fatality after a woman was crushed by a tractor at a tomato farm in Carabooda over the weekend.
The woman was aged in her 60s and was supervising workers conducting the harvest when the incident occurred.
According to early reports, the woman was working on the farm because of a shortage of staff due to the pandemic.
Unions WA Owen Whittle explained that the shortage of workers had caused some issues.
“If that means training and inductions aren’t being done — and that is causing injuries or death — then there need to be serious repercussions.”
The farm was closed over the weekend as WorkSafe WA inspectors attended the scene to gather evidence and determine the cause of the incident.
The fatality makes it the second in as many weeks as the harvest continues in Western Australia.