28/08/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19APg5qhH3/
We're reminding farmers to make sure all machinery guards are in place and regularly checked after a farm worker became entangled in an unguarded power take-off (PTO) shaft. The worker lost an arm and suffered multiple serious injuries after his clothing was caught in the unguarded PTO shaft while operating a tractor connected to a feed mixer.
PTO shafts are one of the most hazardous parts of farm machinery. They rotate at high speed and when unguarded, can catch loose clothing in an instant, causing serious injuries or death.
Shady Farming Limited pleaded guilty to a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and was convicted and fined an end total of $60,000 and ordered to pay reparation of approximately $96,000.
We encourage farmers to:
- Check PTO shafts and other moving machinery parts are fully guarded
- Inspect guards regularly for wear, damage, or missing components
- Repair or replace damaged guards immediately
- Include guarding checks in documented pre-start inspections
- Ensure workers are trained to identify and report damaged or missing guards
- Keep well clear of PTO shafts and disengage machinery before approaching it.
Read more: https://bit.ly/3SsTczj
