Quad bike deaths on Buller farm 'terrible coincidence'

File Photo / APN

Landcorp says it's a "terrible coincidence" both quad bike deaths in its 27-year history have happened on the same Buller farm.

Dairy assistant Kaye Blance, 54, of Westport, died when her quad bike rolled on the farm, about 16km south-west of Westport, yesterday afternoon. She was found dead by a colleague about 3pm.

Police and Worksafe NZ are investigating.

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

"There have been two quad bike fatalities on Landcorp properties in its 27-year history. The terrible coincidence is that both accidents occured on the same property," Landcorp chief executive Steven Carden said today.

Mr Carden was unable to say how the accident happened or what work Ms Blance was doing at the time.

"We are unable to provide comment as investigations into exactly what happened are continuing with WorkSafe NZ and the coroner's office."

St John Buller area territory manager Robbie Blankenstein said that St John were called to the quad bike rollover at 3.04pm. Ms Blance had died sometime before they were alerted. They did not attempt resuscitation. He could not confirm the cause of death.

Mr Carden said Ms Blance had worked on the farm since November last year. He said all Landcorp staff must be competent using quad bikes, tractors and motorbikes safely. They underwent a two-day Industry Training Organisation course, unless they already had a certificate.

"Kaye completed the training and was assessed as competent at the start of March."

He was unable to comment on whether Ms Blance was wearing a helmet when the crash occurred, but said all Landcorp staff were required to wear a helmet while riding quad bikes.

It was a very distressing time for Ms Blance's family and Landcorp, he said.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with her family, and we will be providing every possible support to those who need it."

Following Ms McNelis' death, coroner Richard McElrea recommended Landcorp promote rotational coupling suitable for light trailers being operated in hill terrain by quad bikes or similar vehicles.

Mr McElrea said Landcorp had taken steps to promote worker safety by putting heavy duty tyres on its quad bikes and had trialled wheel spaces, rollover protection and alternate tow bar mechanisms.

Landcorp's 2010 half-year report said the company had commissioned an independent investigation after Ms McNelis' death, further tightened practices for using quad bikes and worked with the Department of Labour to improve the stability of quad bikes on farms.

WorkSafe New Zealand says quad bikes are involved in about 28 per cent of all farm-related deaths. There were 29 work-related quad bike deaths in the seven calendar years from 2006- 2012 - including one on the West Coast (Ms McNelis) - and 260 quad bike serious harm notifications, including six on the West Coast.

Otago University research has found that, on average, riders lose control of quad bikes on 12,645 occasions a year, resulting in 1400 injuries, not all of which are reported.

-Westport Daily News