AG-001 · Free microlearning

Farm Vehicles & Terrain

Awareness learning for people who use or work around quad bikes, side-by-sides, two-wheel motorbikes, utes, 4WDs, tractors and attached machinery during New Zealand agricultural work.

What you will learn

  • why choosing the right vehicle matters
  • how slopes, surface conditions, weather and visibility change risk
  • how passengers, loads, towing and attachments can affect stability
  • why restraints, helmets and protective structures must be used as intended
  • when fatigue, unfamiliarity or changing conditions mean stop and reassess.
This is awareness learning, not vehicle-operation certification. Safe operation requires practical competence on the actual vehicle and task.
Lesson 2

Where this learning fits

Current duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 require work risks to be managed and workers to receive the information, training, instruction or supervision needed to protect them from risk.

  • WorkSafe currently identifies farm vehicles as a major source of serious harm in agriculture.
  • Current WorkSafe farm-vehicle guidance remains relevant now.
  • WorkSafe has published an approved code of practice for Safe farm vehicle operation, but it takes effect on 1 April 2027.
  • The upcoming ACOP does not create a reason to wait: existing HSWA duties apply now.

AG-001 distinguishes current duties from the 2027 ACOP. Always follow current law, manufacturer instructions and your farm's procedures.

Lesson 3

Use the right vehicle for the job

  • consider the task, terrain, ground condition, weather, people, load and towing needs before choosing the vehicle
  • follow the manufacturer's operating, passenger, load and towing limits
  • do not use convenience as the reason for choosing a less suitable vehicle
  • most quad bikes are designed for one rider; use a suitable passenger-carrying vehicle where people need to be transported
  • do not operate a vehicle you are not trained or competent to use safely.
Vehicle choice is a control. A safer vehicle for the task may be different from the vehicle that is closest or quickest to grab.
Lesson 4

Terrain and conditions can change the answer

Farm tracks and paddocks are not static workplaces. Rain, erosion, mud, vegetation, stock movement and changing light can turn a familiar route into a different risk.

  • assess slopes, holes, ruts, drop-offs, soft ground, obstacles and visibility
  • reduce speed and choose a safer route when conditions require it
  • if you cannot judge the ground safely from the vehicle, stop and inspect it before committing
  • reassess when weather, terrain, load or task changes
  • avoid distraction — stop the vehicle if another task needs your attention.

Fatigue, alcohol, drugs and medicines that impair alertness or coordination can also make vehicle operation unsafe.

Lesson 5

Loads, towing and protection

  • stay within manufacturer load and towing limits, including attachment and hitch requirements
  • remember that moving liquids and poorly secured loads can alter stability
  • use seatbelts where fitted; a protective structure cannot provide its intended protection if an occupant is thrown outside it
  • wear a suitable helmet when required for the vehicle and task
  • do not carry people in locations not designed for passengers, such as a side-by-side cargo tray
  • do not make unauthorised modifications that may affect stability or protective structures.

Different vehicle types behave differently. Vehicle-specific training and the owner's manual matter.

Lesson 6

Check the vehicle — and the operator

  • complete the farm's required pre-use checks and deal with safety-critical defects before use
  • check tyres, controls, brakes and other safety-critical items as required for that vehicle
  • confirm loads, attachments and trailers are suitable and secure
  • know the vehicle before using it in challenging terrain or conditions
  • get practical training and refresher training appropriate to the vehicle and work
  • do not operate when fatigue, impairment or lack of competence makes the task unsafe.
A familiar farm does not make every trip routine. Vehicle condition, terrain, weather, load and operator fitness can all change.
Lesson 7

Stop · Think · Act

Scenario: You are asked to take feed and a co-worker across a wet hillside. The quad bike is nearby, but the load is awkward, the ground has become slippery after rain, and the quad is designed for one rider.

What is the best response?

Lesson 8

Knowledge check

Answer all four correctly to complete this awareness module.

1. What should drive farm-vehicle selection?

2. What should happen when terrain or weather changes significantly?

3. Which statement about loads and towing is correct?

4. What does completing AG-001 demonstrate?