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Introduction
A 63-year-old man has died in a workplace incident at a farming property in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region, owned by prominent grain producer John Nicoletti. The tragedy occurred on Saturday at Merredin, about 260 kilometres north-east of Perth.
Details of the Incident
Emergency services were alerted around 12:30pm after reports of a serious workplace accident at the property. Two ambulance crews attended, but the man was confirmed dead at the scene upon their arrival, according to a St John WA spokesperson.
The site is owned by Nicoletti, a long-established Wheatbelt farmer often referred to as WA’s “grain king” for his large-scale cropping operations.
Nicoletti told the ABC he was informed of the incident by a contractor who was installing new silos on the property.
“I was contacted by the contractors on site — it’s just incredibly sad,” he said.
Initial Confusion Over Location
The fatality was initially reported at the nearby Co-operative Bulk Handling (CBH) facility in Merredin. CBH staff redirected emergency responders to the neighbouring farm after realising the incident occurred on Nicoletti’s land.
CBH area manager Jerome O’Malley said emergency teams had first arrived at the CBH sample sheds.
“They heard there was an incident involving grain … then we redirected them to the property next door,” he said.
Regulatory Investigation
WorkSafe WA has been notified and is investigating the incident. Inspectors will examine site conditions and work procedures to determine whether safety breaches contributed to the man’s death.
A report will be prepared for the WA Coroner.
Community and Industry Context
The Wheatbelt remains one of WA’s most hazardous working regions, with agriculture consistently ranking among the state’s highest-risk industries for workplace fatalities. Incidents involving machinery, silos, and grain handling operations continue to be a significant safety concern.
Nicoletti’s properties form part of one of the state’s largest privately-owned grain enterprises, with operations that have long symbolised the scale and challenges of modern Australian agriculture.
Conclusion
As investigations continue, authorities are expected to review whether safety protocols and emergency procedures were adequate at the time of the accident. The man’s death serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by workers in regional and agricultural industries across Western Australia.