As we have seen in Australia, one of the leading causes of work-related deaths quad bikes rolling over and crushing the rider. WorkSafe NZ has issued a warning following four recent deaths.
The NZ regulator, also called WorkSafe, is urging rural employers to refocus on the risk of quad bike roll-overs, which have tragically killed four farmers across the country in three weeks.
WorkSafe is investigating all four fatalities. Farm vehicle incidents are one of the top two causes of workplace deaths in Aotearoa, which is why agriculture is a priority sector under WorkSafe’s new strategy.
WorkSafe principal inspector Graham Bates, said “Doing a risk assessment of your terrain and tasks must be the top priority before getting on a quad bike. This is a time of year when we are experiencing variable weather and growth, and variable ground conditions. Sloped surfaces and steep terrain can be especially problematic and have sadly been a factor in some of the recent cases.”
Read more: NZ WorkSafe Media release Four deaths prompt quad bike warning