What happened?
WorkSafe reported that a worker on a Wairarapa dairy farm lost an arm and suffered several other serious injuries after his clothing became caught in an unguarded power take-off (PTO) shaft. The tractor was connected to a feed mixer when the incident happened in January 2025.
The farm company pleaded guilty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. It was fined $60,000 and ordered to pay approximately $96,000 in reparation.
Why PTO shafts are so dangerous
A PTO transfers power from a tractor to attached equipment. It rotates at high speed and can catch clothing, hair or a body part almost instantly. A worker may have little or no opportunity to pull away.
A correctly fitted and maintained guard creates a physical barrier between the worker and the rotating shaft. That makes guarding a critical control—not an optional extra.
The paperwork already identified the risk
According to WorkSafe, the farm's risk register recognised machinery entanglement as a high risk and its safety system required PTO shafts to be guarded at all times. However, the tractor and feed mixer were still operated without PTO guarding.
This exposes a common SME gap: the written procedure says the right thing, but nobody is consistently checking that the control is present and effective where the work happens.
What farms and SMEs should do
- Check before every use. Include PTO guards and other moving parts in a documented pre-start check.
- Inspect the full guarding system. Confirm the tractor master shield, PTO shaft guard and implement guard are present, secure and suitable.
- Replace damaged guards promptly. Normal farm work can wear or damage guarding. Do not keep operating while waiting for a convenient repair date.
- Isolate before approaching. Disengage the PTO, stop the engine, remove the key and wait for all movement to stop before inspecting, clearing or working near equipment.
- Train workers properly. Workers need to recognise missing or damaged guards, report defects and know they have authority to stop the job.
- Close the loop. Supervisors should review pre-start records, check machinery in the field and confirm reported defects are actually fixed.
A pre-start form is not the control
A ticked box has value only when it reflects a real inspection. Keep the check short, specific and easy to use. If the guard fails the check, the equipment should be clearly taken out of service until it is repaired.
Owners and managers should periodically verify the system themselves: look at the equipment, speak with the operator, sample completed checks and follow a defect through to closure.
Look beyond PTOs
The same approach applies to augers, conveyors, belts, chains, pulleys, mixers, fans, rollers and other moving machinery. Ask where a person could become caught, drawn in, crushed, cut or struck—and whether the guard prevents access during normal work, cleaning, adjustment and maintenance.
How ChemMatrix consultancy can help
ChemMatrix is a consultant-led service available now for farms and SMEs. We can complete an on-site walk-through, review critical risks and existing procedures, check whether key controls are working in practice, and provide a prioritised corrective-action plan.
Our core specialist work includes hazardous-substance inventories, SDS reviews, chemical and fuel storage, spill and emergency planning, worker awareness and implementation support. Machinery observations can also be captured as part of a wider farm safety review and referred for specialist engineering advice where required.
ChemMatrix is evolving its systems and may develop a digital platform in the future. It is not currently promoted as a self-service digital product: the service available today is practical consultancy, assessment and follow-up support.
Five questions to ask today
- Are all PTO and moving-part guards fitted and undamaged?
- Does the pre-start check name the guards that must be inspected?
- Can every worker stop and isolate defective equipment?
- Who confirms a reported defect has been repaired?
- When did a manager last verify the system in the field?
Official source: WorkSafe New Zealand — Unguarded farm machinery can change lives in seconds.