WorkSafe issues safety reminder after two farmers sustain fatal injuries while trying to enter a moving tractor

WorkSafe issues tractor safety reminder after two fatal incidents

In short: WorkSafe is reminding everyone of the significance of keeping your tractor's braking systems in good condition and advising against trying to enter a moving tractor. Two farmers died while attempting exactly that, with a faulty or partly applied handbrake behind each tragedy — a stark case for tighter plant risk management on rural properties.

The state's workplace safety regulator indicates that two farmers have recently died in related circumstances.

“In each case, the farmer had been operating a tractor with a hay baler, and dismounted the tractor to attend to a task,” WorkSafe Victoria said.

“The tractor and hay baler rolled forward in one incident, and backward in the other incident.”

When the operators attempted to climb back aboard, they were caught under the wheel, which resulted in fatal injuries. One handbrake proved defective; the second had not been completely applied before dismounting.

Find out more here.

Never enter or exit plant that is still rolling

Momentum, mud and a slack park brake make climbing aboard a moving unit unsurvivable. Shut down first, secure the brake, chock a wheel where ground slopes away, and only then step onto or off agricultural equipment.

Many farmers work alone, which makes disciplined shutdown routines even more critical. Safe stopping habits form the first layer of mobile plant management on any property:

• Apply the handbrake fully, then confirm holding force before dismounting.
• Select neutral or park, lower attachments, switch off ignition and remove the key.
• Chock wheels on gradients as part of daily hazard management.
• Do not enter a cabin, or reach through for controls, while wheels turn.
• Report brake defects immediately through your maintenance management register.

A quick guide to handbrake and braking system checks

Use this guide during pre-start inspections and scheduled servicing:

• Holding test: park on a gradient, secure the lever, verify zero creep.
• Linkage wear: inspect cables, rods and pivot points for stretch or corrosion.
• Adjustment: follow manufacturer specifications and log every adjustment in maintenance management records.
• Ratchet and pawl: confirm the lever locks positively and cannot vibrate free.
• Trailed implements: examine baler brakes, hitch pins, drawbars and safety chains.

Where a defect appears, tag that tractor out of service. Isolation and tag-out belong inside your change management process, so nobody restarts a partly repaired unit prematurely.

Occupational health and safety obligations on farms

Under harmonised work health and safety laws, a person conducting a business or undertaking must eliminate or minimise risk arising from powered equipment. Agricultural operators carry the same legal obligation as any construction, manufacturing or hospital employer, and regulators expect documented proof.

Proof usually takes the shape of a safety management system: policies, registers, inspection records and training sign-offs demonstrating that hazard control was planned rather than improvised.

Build plant risk management into everyday operations

Consistent record keeping converts good intentions into verifiable control. Every farming enterprise, rural contractor and agribusiness benefits from these management tools:

• Risk Management Plan — captures hazard identification, chosen controls and review dates.
• Traffic Management Plan — separates people from tractors, headers and trucks around sheds.
• Maintenance Management Register — schedules brake, tyre, guard and PTO servicing.
• Fatigue Management Policy — essential through harvest, calving and long seeding shifts.
• Contractor Management Procedure — verifies competency before anyone operates equipment.
• Emergency Management Plan — covers remote-area rescue, first aid and communication steps.
• Chemical Management Register — safety data sheets alongside storage and decanting controls.
• Incident reporting forms — feed investigation findings straight into management review.

Smaller holdings often ask how much paperwork is enough. A practical guide: retain whatever a regulator, insurer or client could reasonably request, then keep everything current via quarterly management review.

Training and supervision for every farm worker

Competency beats instinct. Induct each new farm worker on start-up, shutdown and dismount procedures, then verify those skills in the paddock instead of assuming familiarity with older units.

Supervisors should coach seasonal staff, and guide young or inexperienced operators through their first hours behind the wheel. Seasonal pressure never justifies shortcuts, so workload management keeps decisions sound when daylight runs short.

More WorkSafe reminders on plant and equipment safety

Comparable warnings have followed similar tragedies interstate:

• WorkSafe WA issues reminder on mobile plant safety following two fatal incidents
• An earlier regulator warning about heavy equipment operation
• Ladder injuries prompt WorkSafe safety reminder

Related templates

• Electrical Safety Policy — supports safe wiring practice around sheds and workshops.
• Electrical Safety Checklist – NZ — routine verification for New Zealand sites.
• Workplace Safety Rules – NZ — a simple guide for inductions and toolbox talks.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it so dangerous to enter a moving tractor?

Large tyres leave no clearance, and a single slip places an operator directly beneath a load that cannot stop. Regulators worldwide treat such attempts as fatal-risk behaviour.

How often should tractor brakes be inspected?

Visually before each shift, then mechanically at manufacturer-specified service intervals. Record both within a maintenance management schedule.

Which documents demonstrate compliance after an incident?

A hazard register, safe work method statements, equipment inspection checklists, training matrices and a management review record together show due diligence.

SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture supplies editable, industry-specific templates, while our safety software pages explain digital management options for inspections and audits.

Need help choosing? Our support team can guide you toward the right management package, whether you run a family property, a civil crew or a healthcare facility.