Alice Springs arborist charged with reckless conduct over wood chipper incident

NT WorkSafe has charged an Alice Springs arborist over an incident last year when a wood chipper seriously injured a worker.

In November 2022 Mr Peter Van Der Pasch, trading as Petals Pruning Perfection and Tree Removals, was working at a private residence removing tree branches with two workers. It is alleged that at the time of the incident, branches were being fed into the wood chipper when the chipper hood detached from the machine and struck one of the workers. The injured worker was transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he was treated for serious internal injuries.

NT WorkSafe investigation found the wood chipper was damaged almost two months earlier following a road incident. NT WorkSafe will also allege that subsequent repairs failed to return the machine to a safe standard, and Mr Van Der Pasch was aware the machine was defective at the time of the incident.

Mr Van Der Pasch has been charged with three breaches of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011.

• Two charges under Section 31 (Reckless conduct) for failing his primary duty of care and putting two of his workers at risk of death or serious injury.
  • Alternative charges under Section 32 have also been laid.
• One charge under Section 33 for failing his primary duty of care by not having a safe system of work.

If found guilty of all charges, Mr Van Der Pasch faces a maximum combined penalty of $1.3 million or five years in prison or both.

The matter is listed for the Alice Springs Local Court on Wednesday 23 August 2023.