Vic farmer dies after being crushed by rotating rock-picker

Vic Farmer Dies After Being Crushed by Rotating Rock-Picker

Farmers are being reminded by WorkSafe to effectively control the risk of fatalities or severe injuries resulting from tractor attachments. This safety news comes after a Victoria farmer died following a crush incident involving a rock picker still connected to a running tractor.

WorkSafe issued the reminder after a farmer, aged 53, was fatally injured while attempting to dislodge a large rock from a rock picker connected to a tractor that still had the power take-off (PTO) engaged.

After the rock was removed, moving components of the machine activated and crushed the farmer on his farm. This incident highlights ongoing risk factors tied to tractor attachments across Victoria's agricultural sector, echoing other recent cases such as a farmer hospitalised after being crushed by gate.

Why Agricultural Work Carries Such High Risk

WorkSafe states that while agriculture accounts for just 2% of Victoria's workforce, it is responsible for 14% of workplace fatalities. Approximately three-quarters of these deaths link back to equipment used on farming properties.

This disproportionate risk means farm work remains one of the most hazardous occupations in Victoria, despite representing a small share of overall employment. Similar patterns appear in other states, including a case where a farmer dies after being struck by tractor north of Perth.

Key Statistics From WorkSafe

• Agriculture makes up only 2% of Victoria's workforce
• Farm work accounts for 14% of workplace fatalities across the state
• Roughly three-quarters of these fatalities involve agricultural equipment

Controlling Tractor Attachment Hazards

Victoria's workplace safety watchdog emphasises reducing or eliminating crush, entanglement, and amputation risks tied to tractor attachments. Operators should never approach moving parts on a rake, rock picker, or similar equipment without first disengaging power sources.

WorkSafe recommends farmers switch off the PTO and turn off engines before clearing blockages or dislodging objects from attachments. This straightforward safety step prevents sudden reactivation of moving parts that can crush or entangle workers.

Practical Safety Measures for Farms

• Always disengage the PTO before inspecting or clearing tractor attachments
• Never place hands or body parts near moving components while equipment remains powered
• Train all workers on farm equipment shutdown procedures
• Review safe work method statements regularly for high-risk tasks involving heavy machinery

Businesses managing similar hazards may find value in reviewing an excavator attachment rock hammer SWMS as a reference point for documenting attachment-related risk controls.

Broader Health and Safety Context

This fatality adds to a troubling pattern of farm equipment incidents reported in recent safety news. Fatal outcomes linked to tractors, gates, and other machinery continue to underscore why health and safety planning matters on every farming property.

Beyond agriculture, Victoria has also seen other tragic workplace incidents, such as a traffic controller dies after being struck by truck on VIC highway, reinforcing that risk management remains critical across many industries, not just farming.

Employers operating vehicles as part of daily work should also consider resources like the OHS Driver's Manual (Vic) to support broader health and safety obligations relevant to mobile plant and vehicle operation.

Key Takeaways for Farm Safety

This incident serves as a stark reminder that tractor attachments demand strict safety protocols every time they're used. WorkSafe's ongoing news updates continue to highlight preventable deaths tied to inadequate risk controls on farms.

Farmers and farm workers should treat every rock picker, rake, or attachment task with caution, ensuring machinery stays fully powered down before manual intervention. Doing so protects lives and keeps farms operating safely into the future.

Further information can be found here.