Two fatal farm accidents in just 24 hours have reignited concerns over quad bike and side-by-side vehicle safety in New South Wales.

On Tuesday, 26 November, a man in Peelwood, southeast NSW, was killed when the quad bike he was riding overturned at 2:45 pm. 

The following day, a farm manager drowned near a property between Orange and Dubbo after his side-by-side vehicle rolled into a creek.

SafeWork NSW described the deaths as tragic and issued an urgent reminder for farm workers to prioritise safety. 

Head of SafeWork NSW, Trent Curtin, extended condolences to the families and called on farms to assess their safety measures. 

“Those running farms and working on farms need to stop and have a look at the safety systems they have in place to prevent these types of incidents,” he said.

Since 2001, more than 57 people in NSW have died in quad bike incidents, and another 21 fatalities have involved side-by-side vehicles. 

Curtin highlighted that wearing a helmet on a quad bike cuts the risk of death by 40 per cent and stressed the importance of using seatbelts and fitting operator protection devices on vehicles.

SafeWork NSW reminded businesses of their legal responsibilities under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and Regulation 2017 to identify hazards and manage risks. 

Inspectors have adopted a zero-tolerance approach and will issue fines for breaches such as failing to wear helmets or seatbelts.

Curtin urged farm workers to take precautions, including choosing vehicles suited to the terrain, driving at safe speeds, and avoiding steep areas. 

“The safety features on your vehicle could save your life,” he said. Further advice is available on the SafeWork NSW website.

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