Four farmers have died in quad bike accidents in New Zealand over the past three weeks. The tragic incidents occurred in Wairarapa, Canterbury, Southland, and Northland, with the first death on July 18 and the last on July 30. These accidents happened during the busy lambing and calving season.
WorkSafe is investigating each of the fatalities. On July 15, two people were also injured when a quad bike rolled over in the Tasman District.
Graham Bates, a principal inspector at WorkSafe, expressed sympathy for the families affected. He noted that while investigations are ongoing, the number of accidents is concerning. Steep and sloped terrain, common on farms, has contributed to some of these accidents.
Bates emphasized that farmers should assess the risk of the land and tasks before using quad bikes, especially during this time of year. Quad bike accidents are one of the main causes of workplace deaths in New Zealand, making agriculture a key focus for WorkSafe’s safety efforts. The organization aims to target major risks and work with farmers to improve safety practices.
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