Fatal incident involving a worker and tractor attachment

Possible control measures to prevent similar incidents

Tractors and attachments

Effective control measures for tractors and attachments include:

• The proper design and engineering of any tractor attachment.
• Pre-start inspections
  • PCBUs should ensure that visual and pre-start inspections of rural plant are carried out before the plant is put to use.
  • Inspection is one of the best tools available to identify hazards and assess any associated risks before accidents occur. Inspection can accomplish the following:
    • identify potential problems of operation not referred to in the manufacturer’s instructions.
    • identify deficiencies in the rural plant or the equipment associated with the use of the plant. Among the basic causes of problems are normal wear and tear, corrosion, modifications, and loose or damaged rural plant parts.
    • identify worker actions associated with the use of rural plant (this will identify where further training is needed).
    • identify effects of changes in processes or materials associated with rural plant (changes may gradually occur that produce a different outcome than originally assessed).
    • identify inadequacies in implemented control measures.
    • identify changing hazards during transport activities.

• Servicing and maintenance
  • Rural plant should be serviced and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements and specified periods, or as advised by the competent person (e.g., engineer, trades person, manufacturer representative). A record of all relevant servicing and/or maintenance should be kept.
  • Through effective servicing and maintenance, a PCBU can prevent rural plant from deteriorating to a point where it becomes unsafe. This will help prevent rural plant becoming a risk to health and safety.
• Risk assessments conducted for safety compliance in accordance to AS/NZS 4024 (the series)
• Following manufacturer’s operating instructions
  • Rural plant operators reading and following the manufacturer's operating instructions and being trained in the rural plant’s safe operating procedures in addition completing specialised training for the particular farm needs.
  • Work procedures should highlight key steps or specific task requirements that must be followed to ensure the safe operation of rural plant.
• Providing easy to understand information, training and instruction to workers, including how to undertake work tasks. Ensure experienced workers are involved in any training. Keep records of training completed.
• Ensuring all workers undergo induction at the beginning of their employment.
• Consulting with workers on rural plant issues that may affect their health or safety.
  • Consultation can take the form of an informal discussion or during the inspection of the workplace.
• Wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the work to be performed including but not limited to gloves, protective footwear, hearing protection, safety glasses or sunglasses, hats, long-sleeved collared shirt, long pants and sunscreen. Ensure all workers wear PPE if supplied and they are instructed in the proper use.

Some further common safety considerations when a tractor is operated include (but not limited to):

• Drive tractors at speeds slow enough to keep control over unexpected hazards.
• When a powered implement is attached, ensure all guards are in place before operating to aid in preventing a worker from engaging with moving parts.
• Do not attempt to adjust or work on implements while they are in motion.
• Do not use or attach implements to the power take-off (PTO) unless the PTO shaft is guarded.
• Only attach implements to the drawbar, three-point linkage or other specified hitch points specifically designed for that purpose.
• Never hitch to points forward of, or higher than the drawbar as this could be extremely dangerous.
• Ensure that the weight applied to the three-point linkage by lifting jibs or other attached equipment does not exceed the manufacturer’s specifications or adversely affect stability or steering. In addition, seek expert technical advice before fixing counterweights or wheel weights (front or rear) to increase tractor stability.
• Seek advice from the operating manual or supplier about the recommended weight of a trailer or implement that the tractor can safely tow before towing it.

The control measures you put in place should be regularly reviewed to make sure they are effective. If the control measure is not working effectively, it must be revised to ensure it is effective in controlling the risk.

Remote or isolated work

For workers

As a worker, you need to consider the risks of remote or isolated work and make sure you can communicate and get help if necessary.

Some steps you can take to stay safe:

• Before you leave, tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll return.
• Make sure you have the right communication equipment you need to stay in touch, for example, a mobile phone, 2-way radio, or satellite phone.
• Take enough water and food.
• Have a call-in system. For example, if you’re working on a farm, arrange to call in via 2-way radio at specific times, or when you move to another location.
• Keep first-aid equipment handy and make sure you know how to use it.
• Make sure you have access to an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or GPS tracking system.
• Include a list of emergency numbers and property GPS coordinates on a card nearby.
• Have the appropriate recovery gear if travelling off road.

For PCBUs

If you’re a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you have a duty to, as far as it’s reasonably practicable to:

• put measures in place to protect remote and isolated workers from risk including:
  • inspecting your business and reviewing processes — consider the location where the work is being done. For example, think about environmental conditions and distance to facilities and resources. Identify the work and work processes that require workers to be remote or isolated.
  • talking to your workers —talk to your workers to get their ideas about potential risks and hazards at work. You could also use a confidential survey, so workers feel safe to report issues and make suggestions. Also think about ways to include workers who are less likely to speak up in a group meeting or who might have language or reading and writing barriers
  • considering the worker and any individual factors, like their experience and training, that may affect their ability to work remotely and manage the environment
  • movement records — keeping track of workers can help control the risks. This can be done with:
    • systems for calling in with supervisors or colleagues
    • satellite tracking systems or devices.
• make sure workers can communicate effectively and get help if needed
  • take into consideration the length of time and time of day workers may be working remotely or isolated
  • the type of communication system will depend on the environment and location of the work. In some cases, you might need expert advice or local knowledge to select the best system. Communication systems can include:
    • personal security systems, such as non-movement sensors that automatically activate an alarm transmission if the transmitter or transceiver has not moved within a certain time. This alarm should then trigger a process for an emergency response
    • radio communication systems
    • satellite communication systems
    • distress beacons, for example emergency position indication radio beacons (EPIRB) used in ships and boats, emergency locator transmitters (ELT) used in aircraft, and person locator beacons (PLB) for personal use
    • mobile phones — in locations which have mobile coverage. If there is any doubt about coverage, you should consult with the provider or have a backup system.
• supply the correct equipment for the task e.g. recovery gear if working/travelling off road.
• ensure skills, training and experience of the worker, as well as their physical and psychological health. Workers should be given training before working alone or remotely. Examples of topics to include in training (depending on the work being done) are:
  • using communications systems
  • administering first aid
  • getting help in an emergency
  • driving off-road vehicles
  • bush survival.
• ensure no other persons’ health or safety is put at risk through your business or undertaking. For example, random checks to ensure workers are following procedures. If you identify an issue, address it by, for example, giving the worker more training and start a process to manage performance before implementing these controls.

Risk management is an ongoing process. Circumstances can change and you need to regularly review the work environment, work processes, equipment, and any other relevant factors to identify any new hazards and risks. According to work health and safety laws, you’re required to review your control measures when:

• you become aware that a control measure isn’t working
• there’s been a change that might give rise to a new risk
• you identify a new hazard or risk
• workers indicate a review is needed
• a supervisor or health and safety representative requests a review
• the dynamic and complexity of your business changes
• a work health and safety incident has occurred.