No prosecution over Cape Foulwind Farm death

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WorkSafe has decided not to prosecute Landcorp for the quadbike death of a Westport dairy assistant a year ago.

Kay Blance, 54, died when her quad bike rolled on the Cape Foulwind farm, about 16km south-west of Westport, on May 3 last year.

"The investigation has been completed and WorkSafe will not be taking prosecution action against Landcorp," a WorkSafe spokeswoman said today.

WorkSafe had sent the investigation file to the coroner, as was usual in such cases, the spokeswoman said.

"Until the coronial process has been completed, we are unable to provide details of our decision as our file is evidence in the process."

The fatality was only the second quadbike death in Landcorp's 27-year history.

In November 2010, Westport farm worker Renee McNelis, 18, died when the quadbike she was using to tow a trailer of fertiliser overturned in a hilly area of the same farm.

Landcorp last year described the two deaths on the same farm as a "terrible coincidence".

WorkSafe figures show quadbikes are involved in about 28 per cent of all farm-related deaths.

- Westport News