Farm Safety Improves Through 'Incremental Gain', Says Birkett
Improving health and safety is about incremental gain rather than a sudden decision, says Leeston farmer and Federated Farmers health and safety spokesman David Birkett.
A contractor and a passenger were in a side-by-side on a ridge that appeared flat, though it had several gullies.
While reversing to turn around and avoid nearby people and trees, the right rear tyre dropped into a gully hidden by long grass. The vehicle rolled on and a half times and came to rest on its side. The pair exited through the windscreen safely, shaken, but uninjured.
Both the driver and the passenger were using the right gear - helmets, seatbelts, door nets - and that’s what kept them safe in the roll.
Even with a reversing camera and mirrors, the long grass and slope meant the driver couldn’t see where the edge dropped away.
Safer Farms says experienced drivers can still get caught out.
The farm’s contractor processes were solid, and they’d already made sure the contractor knew how to handle a side‐by‐side.
Helmets and seatbelts made all the difference this time. Anyone in the side‐by‐side needs to gear up properly before heading out.
Can’t see well? Get out and have a proper look. Check for dodgy spots like gullies and holes or get someone nearby to guide you.
Door nets keep your arms safe if the side‐by‐side rolls. They take seconds to secure, so lock them in before you move and save yourself a broken arm.
If you do roll, shut the engine off, check everyone is okay, give first aid if needed, and call for help.
Reporting scrapes and near misses could mean no one else has to go through the same thing, so make sure you let your team know.
Taking out the quad or side-by-side? Ask yourself these questions:
- How are the conditions?
- Download, print and share this Safety Alert with your team.
- Planned out your route?
- Is the vehicle good to go?
- Are you good to go?
Safety Alerts document real-life incidents, distilling key lessons from farmers into concise, one-page handouts for managers to use in safety discussions with their teams.
To view the Safety Alerts, please visit http://www.farmwithoutharm.org.nz/safety-alerts. Alerts can be printed out for use in training and discussions and there is an option to be emailed when new Safety Alerts are added.
