Tuesday, 06 July 2021 10:12

Quad bike maintenance a non-negotiable

Written by  Staff Reporters
WorkSafe are reminding farmers of the importance of quad bike maintenance. WorkSafe are reminding farmers of the importance of quad bike maintenance.

Checking tyre pressure on quad bikes should be a fundamental health and safety process, says WorkSafe New Zealand.

There have been 75 fatalities across the country since 2006. A further 614 people have been seriously injured.

The reminder comes after a fatality on Tui Glen Farms in Wharepuhunga in the Waikato in January 2020.

An experienced employee was fatally injured when the quad bike they were riding with their dog rolled on a steeply sloping area of the farm. The victim was found pinned underneath the bike.

A WorkSafe investigation round that the quad bike provided to the staff member had incorrectly inflated tyres with significant variations of over-inflation of tyre pressures. It also found that the staff member had not been trained and instructed on how to check and maintain tyre pressure.

“Planning on the farm needed to include a more comprehensive system for checking the quad bikes tyre pressure,” says WorkSafe area investigation manager Paul West.

WorkSafe recommends that farmers consider what vehicles are best suited for the different roles and terrain of their farms. A side by side vehicle or farm ute may be a safer option than a quadbike for some jobs.

WorkSafe also recommends that businesses consider installing crush protection devices (CPDs) on the back of quad bikes. Currently, WorkSafe are working with ACC on a cash back offer on CPDs.

Tui Glen Farms have since installed CPDs on its quad bike and purchased a side by side vehicle and two-wheeled motorbikes.

More like this

Featured

'One more push' to eliminate FE

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.

Winston Peters questions Fonterra divestment plan

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Quid prod quo?

OPINION: Ageing lefty Chris Trotter reckons that the decision to delay recognition of Palestinian statehood is more than just a fit…

Deadwood

OPINION: A mate of yours truly recently met someone at a BBQ who works at a big consulting firm who spent…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter