A coroner has recommended that four-wheel farm bikes should be equipped with rotational towballs after a fatal accident on a Cape Foulwind farm in 2010.
Farmhand Renee Eileen Tori McNelis, 18, described as "a bright cheerful girl with a 'can do' attitude," was crushed to death when the quad bike she was on rolled on November 8.
She had been towing a trailer when the bike rolled, trapping her underneath.
Investigators determined that the trailer tipped first, dragging the bike with it.
Coroner Richard McElrea said Landcorp had since taken steps to promote worker safety by putting heavy duty tyres on its quad bikes.
It had also trialled wheel spaces, rollover protection and alternate tow bar mechanisms.
Coroner McElrea recommended that "Landcorp, as part of its ongoing focus on worker safety and means of reducing accident rates, take such steps as are available to it to promote the development of a rotational coupling suitable for light trailers being operated in hill terrain by ATVs (quad bikes) or similar vehicles".
- The Greymouth Star