A Wairarapa dairy company has been fined $60,000 after a worker lost an arm when his clothing caught in an unguarded power take-off shaft on a tractor.
The worker suffered multiple serious injuries in the January 2025 incident, when he became entangled while operating a tractor connected to a feed mixer.
Shady Farming Limited pleaded guilty to a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. The company was convicted and fined $60,000 on August 18 and ordered to pay reparation of about $96,000.
Power take-off shafts are among the most dangerous parts of farm machinery, according to WorkSafe. They spin at high speed, and an unguarded shaft can catch loose clothing in an instant.
WorkSafe's central region manager, Nigel Formosa, said the case showed why guarding had to be treated as a critical safety control.
"Farmers know PTOs are dangerous, yet we continue to see workers seriously injured by machinery that isn't properly guarded," he said. "Guards are the last line of defence between a worker and a rotating shaft. If a guard is missing or damaged, the consequences can be devastating."
WorkSafe's investigation found the tractor and feed mixer were being run with no guarding on the shaft. The farm's own risk register had already flagged the high risk of entanglement, and its safety management system required PTO shafts to be guarded at all times, with no exceptions.
The investigation also found the farm was not effectively checking that its pre-start and maintenance process was being followed. That process should have covered checking guards were in place and replacing any that were worn or damaged.
"This incident shows that having rules on paper is not enough," Formosa said. "Farmers need systems that ensure guards are actually present, in good condition, and checked before machinery is used."
Agriculture remains one of New Zealand's highest-risk industries, and machinery incidents continue to cause serious harm.
"No job on the farm is so urgent that it justifies taking risks around moving machinery," Formosa said. "A few minutes spent checking guards can prevent injuries that affect workers and their families for the rest of their lives."
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