A WorkSafe priority sector — where chemicals, machinery and vehicles do the most harm
Horticulture and viticulture are a WorkSafe priority sector, and recent assessments point to three problem areas above all: agrichemical management, machine guarding (especially tractor PTO shafts), and working in and around vehicles like quad bikes and side-by-sides. Add overhead power lines and a large seasonal workforce, and clear, well-communicated controls matter enormously.
When WorkSafe assessed hundreds of horticulture businesses, the same three gaps came up again and again.
In a recent nationwide assessment of hundreds of horticulture businesses, WorkSafe identified hazardous chemical management as the most significant area of concern, followed by machinery safety — particularly unguarded power take-off (PTO) shafts on tractors — and working in and around vehicles. These aren't obscure risks; they're the everyday tools of orchard and vineyard work, which is exactly why they cause so much harm. The good news is that most fixes are practical and inexpensive.
Growing is outdoor, seasonal, machinery-heavy work — with a distinctive set of risks.
| Hazard | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Agrichemicals | Mixing, spraying and storing sprays and fertilisers — exposure, spills and incompatible chemicals. |
| Machinery & PTO | Unguarded power take-off shafts and other machinery causing entanglement. |
| Vehicles | Quad bikes, side-by-sides and tractors — rollovers, and bypassed seatbelts and helmets. |
| Overhead power lines | Lines running through orchards, struck by tall equipment or sprayers. |
| Manual handling | Picking, pruning and packing — repetitive strain and awkward postures. |
| Sun, heat & fatigue | Long outdoor shifts, UV exposure and fatigue during peak season. |
Get WorkSafe's big three right and you've covered most of what causes serious orchard and vineyard harm.
For agrichemicals, keep an inventory, label every container, hold safety data sheets, store and segregate chemicals correctly, use the right PPE, and keep spill equipment and a trained first aider on hand — our hazardous substances guide covers the detail. For machinery, the single highest-value fix is guarding the PTO shaft — a cheap cover that prevents a deadly entanglement. For vehicles, wear helmets on quad bikes, and never bypass the seatbelt on a side-by-side; treat them as the serious machines they are.
Two risks that are easy to underestimate: what's overhead, and who's new this week.
Many orchards have power lines running through them, so plan tall equipment and spraying around them to avoid a strike. And because the sector runs on seasonal and migrant workers — often new to the site and sometimes to New Zealand — induction has to be clear, practical and accessible in the languages your teams actually speak. New workers are at their most vulnerable in their first weeks, which our young & new workers guide explains, so a strong, repeatable induction at the start of each season pays off fast.
Chemicals, machinery, vehicles and seasonal inductions in one place. Book a demo and we'll show you how it works — free 30-day trial included.
Because it contributes to serious workplace incidents and injuries each year, many involving vehicles, inadequate machine guarding, and exposure to hazardous substances. WorkSafe assessments repeatedly find gaps in chemical management and machine guarding across the sector.
WorkSafe flags agrichemical management as the top concern, then machinery safety — especially unguarded PTO shafts — and working in and around vehicles like quad bikes, side-by-sides and tractors. Overhead power lines, manual handling and sun and fatigue are also significant.
Keep an inventory, label every container, hold safety data sheets, store and segregate chemicals correctly, use the right PPE, and keep spill equipment and a trained first aider available. WorkSafe's hazardous substances tools can help with requirements like signage and incompatible chemicals.
Guarding the tractor PTO shaft. An unguarded PTO is one of the deadliest hazards on a property and causes fatal entanglements, yet the fix is a simple, inexpensive guard or cover. Beyond that, wear helmets on quad bikes and never bypass the seatbelt on a side-by-side.
With a clear, practical induction at the start of each season, accessible in the languages your teams speak. New workers are most at risk in their first weeks, so cover the real hazards, vehicles and chemicals before they start, and supervise closely until they're competent.
