Friday, 11 December 2020 10:55

Ensure vehicles are safe - WorkSafe

Written by  Staff Reporters
WorkSafe is warning that if a vehicle is unsafe, it should not be driven. WorkSafe is warning that if a vehicle is unsafe, it should not be driven.

WorkSafe is reminding people that if a vehicle’s safety features are compromised, no one should drive it.

 The reminder follows the death of a woman who was ejected from a Utility Task Vehicle (UTV). The UTV’s seatbelt didn’t work and the driver’s door had been removed.

Owners of a beef, sheep and deer farm, N.E. Parkes & Sons Limited, appeared in Nelson District Court on Monday and were fined $275,000 for failing to ensure the farm vehicle was safe for use at the time of the incident was safe for use.

The woman was working as a WOOFer (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) at the time of the incident in exchange for food and accommodation.

In June 2018, she was travelling as a passenger on the UTV when the driver lost control and the vehicle fell 13 metres down a hillside.

The woman was ejected from her seat, and the vehicle eventually came to rest on top of her and she died from crushing injuries.

The woman driving was also thrown from the vehicle and suffered minor injuries.

The driver pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing death and was discharged without conviction in August 2018.

A WorkSafe investigation found that one door of the UTV had been removed and both seatbelts and helmets were not being used, contrary to manufacturer and WorkSafe advice.

The investigation also found that one seatbelt was not working, and the driver’s seatbelt warning system was not working.

“The safety of the vehicle had been compromised,” said Danielle Henry, WorkSafe’s area manager.

Henry said that the vehicle’s safety features had not been maintained, yet the business still allowed workers and visitors to use it at the time of the incident.

“These vehicles are used every day on farms right across the country. They have safety features for a reason and maintenance of these is imperative.

“If those features aren’t working as they should and you can’t supply appropriate personal protective equipment, then no one should be driving it.”

More like this

Tributes for a top farmer

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards has acknowledged the tragic passing of Morrinsville farmer Jeff Bolstad.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

National

Winter grazing warning

Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.

ANZ defends farm lending rates

The country's largest lender to the agriculture sector says it's not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.

Machinery & Products

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo…

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter