A quad bike rolled over at low speed and killed Ethen Payne at an Eketāhuna dairy farm in 2022. Photo: WorkSafe New Zealand
A quad bike rollover which killed a Tararua farmhand could have been avoided if the farm manager had kept the bike in good working order, according to WorkSafe.
The bike flipped at low speed and killed 31-year-old Ethen Payne at an Eketāhuna dairy farm in November 2022.
It was later found to have worn brakes, uneven tyre pressure and poor suspension.
It had been bought second-hand and had no crush protection device installed.
The farm manager and bike owner, Dane Hemphill, has now been sentenced for health and safety failures uncovered by the WorkSafe investigation.
A victim impact statement read out in court said Payne's mother had since died of a broken heart.
The quad bike was found to worn brakes, uneven tyre pressure and poor suspension. Photo: Supplied / WorkSafe New Zealand
WorkSafe's central regional manager, Nigel Formosa, said: "This tragedy should be the lightning rod the agriculture sector needs to up its game on quad bike safety."
WorkSafe strongly recommended installing a crush protection device on the back of a quad bike, and reminded people to check the tyre pressure and brakes before setting off, alongside regular servicing.
"We know life is busy for farmers, but there's no excuse for letting your quad bike maintenance slide - especially when the consequences can be catastrophic," Formosa said.
Agriculture was New Zealand's deadliest industry in 2024, with 14 workers killed. Vehicles were the leading cause of death and injury on New Zealand farms.
WorkSafe said it had a new strategy, targeting about a quarter of its future inspectorate activity towards agriculture.
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