WorkSafe Warning After Woman Was Ejected And Crushed By Farm Vehicle

WorkSafe cautions people to make sure their vehicle safety features work after a woman was ejected from a farm vehicle and killed in Nelson.

The woman was ejected from a task utility vehicle (UTV), commonly known as a side-by-side.

The side-by-side passenger seat belt was not working and the driver’s door had been removed.

The owners of a beef, sheep and deer farm, NE 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.

The woman was working as a woofer (volunteer workers on organic farms) at the time of the incident in exchange for food and accommodation.

In June 2018, I was riding as a passenger side-by-side when the driver lost control and the vehicle fell 13 meters down a hillside.

The woman was ejected from her seat and the vehicle eventually stopped on top of her and she was crushed to death.

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

The WorkSafe investigation found that a door had been removed from side to side and that seat belts and helmets were not being used, contrary to the advice of the manufacturer and WorkSafe.

The investigation also found that one of the seat belts was not working and the driver’s seat belt warning system was not working.

“Vehicle safety had been compromised,” said WorkSafe area manager Danielle Henry.

“The safety features installed on the vehicle had not been maintained. However, the business still allowed workers and farm visitors to operate an unsafe vehicle.

“These vehicles are used every day on farms across the country. They have safety features for a reason and maintenance is imperative. If those features don’t work as they should and you can’t provide the proper personal protective equipment, then no one should be driving them. “.