Tractor death prompts safety warning
Posted
WorkSafe is warning farmers against do-it-yourself tractor attachments, after the death of a Portland farmer on Sunday.
The 40-year-old man was crushed when a 300 kilogram hay bale fell onto his tractor.
A WorkSafe investigation has found the man was trying to lift the bale with his tractor, which had improvised forklift arms.
WorkSafe spokesman Michael Birt says farmers should leave tractor alterations to a qualified engineer.
"Unfortunately in Victoria there are many farmers and other business operators who improvise gear, they make it themselves and then often something goes wrong," he said.
"We've had several deaths in recent years and recent months in fact where people have died in these circumstances and it really is a warning to everybody, get it checked out first."
