When someone dies on a farm, a vehicle is almost always involved
Farm vehicles are the biggest killer in New Zealand agriculture — WorkSafe reports that, on average, around 10 people are killed on farms each year by farm vehicles, and when someone dies on a farm there is almost always a vehicle involved. The single most important decision is to choose the right vehicle for the job — for safety, not convenience — then apply the cross-cutting rules: helmets, no kids on adult machines, passengers only where the vehicle is designed for them, seatbelts where fitted, and trained, competent operators.
Most farms run a mix of vehicles — quad bikes, side-by-sides, two-wheeled motorbikes, utes and tractors — and each suits different work. The key is to pick the safest vehicle for each specific task, terrain and load, not simply the one that's handy. A two-wheeled motorbike may suit some mustering, a side-by-side or ute is better for carrying loads or moving people, and a tractor for heavy work. Pushing a vehicle beyond what it was designed for is where things go badly wrong. For the deep dives, see quad bikes & side-by-sides and tractor safety.
| Rule | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Helmets | Wear a helmet on a quad, side-by-side or two-wheeled motorbike. On the road a motorbike helmet must meet NZS 5430 or equivalent; off-road quad riding uses an ATV helmet to NZS 8600. |
| Children | Don't let kids ride adult-sized quads or motorbikes — they lack the size, strength and risk awareness to control them. |
| Passengers | Only carry passengers on a vehicle designed for them. Quads and two-wheeled bikes are built for one; use a side-by-side or ute to move people. |
| Seatbelts | Wear the seatbelt where one is fitted (side-by-sides, tractors) — in fatal farm vehicle crashes, the person often wasn't belted. Don't rely on a rollover structure alone. |
Only let trained, experienced people operate farm vehicles, and check their skills under supervision. Make sure riders know the best routes, the no-go zones, and which jobs suit which vehicle. Stay focused on the terrain — many accidents happen when the operator is distracted or multitasking — and don't carry gear across your knees. Do a pre-use check every time (brakes, tyres, controls, fluids), follow the maintenance schedule, and remember the road rules and a licence apply on the road, which on a farm means anywhere between the fences. Manage non-farm mobile plant under forklift & mobile plant safety.
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They are the leading cause of death on farms. WorkSafe reports that, on average, around 10 people are killed on farms each year by farm vehicles, and when someone dies on a farm there is almost always a vehicle involved.
Choosing the right vehicle for each job — for safety, not convenience. Match the machine to the task, terrain and load: a bike for some mustering, a side-by-side or ute for loads and people, a tractor for heavy work.
When riding a quad, a side-by-side or a two-wheeled motorbike. On the road a motorbike helmet must meet NZS 5430 or equivalent; off-road quad riding uses an ATV helmet to NZS 8600.
Not adult-sized ones. Children don't have the size, strength or risk awareness to control an adult machine, so they should not ride adult-sized quads or motorbikes.
Wear the seatbelt wherever one is fitted, such as on side-by-sides and tractors. In fatal farm vehicle crashes the person often wasn't wearing one, and you shouldn't rely on a rollover structure alone.
