A historical seasonal issue involving rollovers of quad bikes towing calf feed trailers has prompted a Safety Alert from Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation dedicated to fostering a safer farming culture across New Zealand.

There is a pattern and while many of these incidents have been ‘near misses’, there have also been injuries sustained. Any rollover has the potential to result in serious injuries or a fatality.

A common cause of rollovers is that the quad bike being used is not weighted to tow the loaded weight of the calf feed trailer. A thousand litres of milk weighs 1000kg plus the weight of the trailer.

Other common causes include a sudden change of direction by the driver, driving on uneven or slippery ground or steep grades, inexperienced drivers, driver inattention or distraction.

The Safety Alerts are real-life documented incidents and key lessons which have been provided by farmers, condensed into one-page handouts that managers can use in safety discussions with their teams.

This alert can be used by farmers to discuss where to best feed calves so they can be accessed safely and the importance of reconsidering the access if necessary so you can drive in and out safely.

Baffles in tanks will also reduce sloshing, which can cause instability.

Where possible, consider towing the feeder trailer with a larger vehicle, such as a ute. However, if you must use a quad bike, it is important to:

· Know the loaded weight of the trailer and never exceed the towing capacity set out by the quad bike manufacturer

· Reduce the load if conditions change or are uneven, slippery or it is steep terrain

· Ensure drivers are adequately trained for the task and know when to stop if conditions are unsafe

· Make sure drivers always have a reliable way to call for help

· Consider installing a crush protection device (CPD) or other rollover safety system

Meanwhile, Safer Farms is seeking motivated people in the sector to join its Farmer and Grower Reference Group, which play a key role in shaping practical harm prevention initiatives that will work on the ground.

If you are passionate about improving sector safety and wellbeing and can contribute your voice and experience, please contact info@saferfarms.org.nz.

For more information, please contact:

Sam Halstead

027 474 6065 sam@latitudesc.co.nz