This Southland tractor accident was reported on in early May 2018. It’s a horrifying example of how the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 can affect your supply chain management when it comes to purchasing, servicing and maintaining plant.

 

Tractor History

• Agricultural South Ltd sells, services and provides parts for tractors and farm machinery. In 2015, the company took possession of a 2002 New Holland (NH) tractor as part of a trade-in deal.
• It was identified that the NH’s brakes were not working. The problem was diagnosed and both the left and right master cylinders were replaced. No further work was completed to work out why the brakes had failed.
• The tractor was delivered to the Bastiaansen’s farm for a trial in 2016, and an Ag South employee was told that the brakes appeared to be “soft”.
• Another Ag South Ltd worker identified the problem and also topped up the brake fluid reservoir after bleeding the brake system. He did not check the brake pedal or whether bleeding the brakes had fixed the issue.

 

What Happened?

• In early April 2016, the farmer was using the tractor and a trailer to carry timber to a storage shed and his wife was riding on the trailer
• While driving up a 25-degree slope the brakes failed and the NH rolled backwards down the hill. The trailer jack-knifed and detached from the tractor.
• The trailer hit a bank and rolled, throwing Mrs Bastiaansen into the roadway the tractor then rolled over her, causing a “de-gloving” of her left leg, a large open wound on her right leg and breaking several bones” including fractures to her neck vertebrae, humerus and wrist.

 

After Effects:

In her impact statement, Mrs Bastiaansen described how the accident had turned her life upside down, both physically and mentally. She spoke of the horror of the leg injury and her loss of dignity, independence and self-confidence as she endured eight operations on her leg as a result of the accident.

 

What did the courts say?

Following an investigation by WorksafeNZ, the Gore District Court ordered AgriCentre South Ltd to pay $60,000 for emotional harm and $30,000 for consequential loss. Judge Bernadette Farnanarm concluded the defendant exposed the Bastiaansens to a risk of death or serious injury by supplying a tractor with faulty brakes, and the company will be fined at a later date.

 

What does this mean for the supply chain management of plant and machinery at your workplace?

This incident demonstrates how important it is to do the following:

1. Always buy machinery from a reputable supplier
2. If purchasing a second-hand machine ask for maintenance records
3. Get hold of the operator manual and establish:

– Pre-start checks

– Regular maintenance routines

4. If something is not right get it checked out
5. Do not encourage workers to ride on trailers when travelling from one worksite to another (I am aware that farmers ride on trailers all the time when doing jobs like feeding out etc.)

 

Yet again, I can sense that this blog will stir up a hornet’s nest and I’d be keen to know what you do at your site.

1. Do you have any systems for purchasing second-hand plant and machinery?
2. How do you assess new plant and machinery?
3. Do you have a pre-start routine?
4. What is your maintenance schedule like?
5. Is it ok to ride on a trailer?

 

Let me know your thoughts by emailing sarah@employmenow.co.nz or call 0272 007 680.

 

Have a safe and productive week.

 

SB

 

For more information read:

Woman left with horrific injuries after being run over by tractor www.stuff.co.nz

Compensation for injured farmer: Written by  Mark Daniel Rural News