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Why is Vehicle Safety on Farms Important

In the picturesque landscapes of New Zealand, where green fields stretch as far as the eye can see, lies an often overlooked aspect of rural life – vehicle safety. The serene environment of farms and rural businesses can sometimes belie the risks that come with operating heavy machinery and vehicles. At Ag Drive Training, we understand the importance of safety in these settings. Our mission is to provide comprehensive vehicle training for farms, rural businesses, contractors, and anyone w...

Top 3 Benefits of Chainsaw Operator Training Across Industries in New Zealand

In New Zealand, chainsaws are extensively used across various sectors, including forestry, construction, and agriculture. While these tools are indispensable for efficient operations, they also pose significant safety risks if not handled correctly. Chainsaw operator training emerges as a crucial factor in mitigating these risks, enhancing safety, and ensuring compliance with national regulations. This article explores the top three benefits of chainsaw operator training, applicable across diffe...

Workplace deaths, injuries costing NZ $4.4 billion a year - Stuff report

Workplace accidents and deaths are costing the country collectively $4.4 billion, according to a new report out on Tuesday looking at the state of health and safety prevention in New Zealand.In the past five years there were about 73 deaths at work each year, meanwhile ACC received 193,000 new work-related injury claims last year.Those fatality statistics are on par with the number of workplace tragedies that were recorded in Britain in the 1980s. That country’s numbers have reduced greatly in...

St Peter's School Complete Tractor Training with Ag Drive

Last week Ag Drive welcomed a group of students from St Peter's School in Cambridge. Completing the Ag Drive 1-day tractor course, the team learned about vehicle operation and safety. Ag Drive COO Paula Syben says it was great to have the students on site. "We love an opportunity to engage with the next generation of farmers and teach them about vehicle operation & safety," says Paula,"Well done everyone for your hard work on the course it was great to see you all walk away wi...

ACC Chainsaw Related Injuries 2022

STIHL is exploring the comprehensive statistics provided by ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) from 2018 to 2022, delving into various aspects of chainsaw-related injuries.We examine the number of new claims and analyze them based on factors such as age demographics, injury sites, primary diagnosis, lodgement months, accidents by region, and more. By thoroughly examining these statistics, we gain valuable insights into the nature and patterns of chainsaw-related injuries during this five-ye...

Ag Drive on the AM Show

WorkSafe data shows that from 1 January – 31 March 2023, there were 5 farm fatalities and 30 WorkSafe notifiable injuries. In the 12 months to January 2023, there were 14 fatalities in total, and there are more fatalities on farms than in any other industry in New Zealand. ...

5 farm fatalities in 3 months show not enough being done

Ag Drive is calling on the agriculture industry to step up and do more to keep people safe on farm, with 5 fatalities in the first 3 months of 2023, with the launch of their ‘Change the Culture’ campaign.WorkSafe data shows that from 1 January – 31 March 2023, there were 5 farm fatalities and 30 WorkSafe notifiable injuries. In the 12 months to January 2023, there were 14 fatalities in total, and there are more fatalities on farms than in any other industry in New Zealand. Ag Drive, t...

Quad bike widow calls for more education

The widow of a farmer killed in a quad bike accident says education, not hefty fines, is the key to reducing accidents and deaths involving the bikes.Official figures show 28 people died in quadbike accidents between 2010 and last November.WorkSafe told a parliamentary select committee yesterday prosecuting farmers for dangerous practices would not be a productive way of improving safety in the sector - a stance slammed by opposition MPs.In September 2011, 53-year-old Grant Cornelius was found p...

Older farmers and children are involved in more farm accidents than other age groups - Worksafe

Farmers of retirement age are hurt more often than younger farmers, and WorkSafe says more care needs to be taken of children on farms.In the first three months of this year there were five farm fatalities and 30 WorkSafe notifiable injuries, with more fatalities on farms than any other industry.ACC figures showed the number of farm injuries over the past five years were on a downward trend, with 23,096 farming-related injuries in 2018 down to 22,631 last year.Farmers aged 65 or older was t...

Agri injuries approach $100m in ACC claims

The figure, which includes new and existing claims, has risen by about $14 million in the past five years.Almost $100 million was paid out by the Accident Compensation Corporation for agriculture-related injuries last year, and injuries caused by lifting and carrying topped the list of complaints.The figure, which includes new and existing claims, has risen by about $14m in the past five years, yet the number of new claims in 2022 (18,164) has dropped since 2018, when 21,846 were lodge...

Forestry, agriculture, construction deaths are nearly all avoidable

Every week this year on average, one or more New Zealand workers will likely be killed in a workplace accident. Wayne Scott, CEO of MinEx, the extractive sector’s health and safety organisation, is holding workshops next month in Nelson, Blenheim and Greymouth to help reduce the toll.OPINION: America’s latest gun tragedy where a six-year-old shot his teacher will further confirm for many Kiwis the insane nature of that nation’s tolerance for firearms.Yet our acceptance of workplace in...

Ag Drive partners with Agricademy

Ag Drive has signed an agreement with Agricademy, to deliver its award-winning operator training to even more of the agriculture sector. Agricademy provides training for new employees in a more affordable and effective way, leaving classrooms behind, to quickly improve staff productivity. Their innovative training model has been developed online and on-farm for the generation that gets its information online on their smartphones and connects on social media. Agricademy Managing Directo...

New Courses: AG Drive now offering Chainsaw Training

Ag Drive is excited to launch its new course and offer the micro-credential: Operate a chainsaw in the primary industry....

Learner Profile: Leanne Collier

In 2021 Leanne was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, but she hasn't let that keep her from working in the industry that she loves.  "People keep telling me how positive and unique my story is, but I'm just getting out there and doing what I've always done"  After her initial surgery, Leanne was back at work only a few days later.  "My boss was a bit worried, he said he only wanted me on the easy jobs, but after a day or two I was back milking. I started off slow, but I felt fi...

Ngati Haua Mahi Trust trains with Ag Drive

With a commitment to training and a recent investment in a new Light Utility Vehicle, the Ngati Haua Mahi Trust recently approached the Ag Drive team to deliver on-site training to 10 of their team at their Morrinsville facility.  ...

Women landing rural labouring jobs and loving it

Republished from Stuff Campaigns to attract female butchers, fruit harvesters, farm machine operators, shearers and dairy farmers are in full swing across the country as employers face a labour shortage. AgDrive graduate Nina Singh features in this Stuff article, published Feb 2022. Read more below.  ...

New Zealand National Fieldays Society and Ag Drive announce exciting new partnership

Ag Drive is a success story which was born out of the opportunities that the 2020 lockdown created. Director, Andre Syben, realised that there would be a huge shortage of drivers and machine operators, as a result of our borders being closed, which halted the usual influx of migrants coming to New Zealand. “We saw a big gap that had opportunity written all over it, so we ran with it,” says Syben. “Since then, we’ve gone from strength to strength and we’re now looking forward to our nex...

Learner Profile: Jo Townsend

50/50 sharemilker Jo Townsend had been wanting to drive tractors for a long time, but it wasn't until she came across Ag Drive that she could make her dream a reality.  Sharemilking in Wardville near Matamata, Jo Townsend always wanted to drive tractors, but other more pressing things seemed to take up her time.  "I've been wanting to drive tractors for a long time, but it's never been a priority," says Jo.   "I came across an Ag Drive Tractor course on Facebook, and tho...

Onsite training with Valichi Downs

Learn how Ag Drive's onsite training courses are making a difference to employers like Valachi Downs Stud in Matamata, who recently put staff through an onsite Ag Drive training course on LUV (Light Utility Vehicle) operation.  Located in Matamata, the stunning Valachi Downs Stud property is made up of more than 600 acres of hill country, rolling pastures and lush flat lands. Owned by Kevin and Joanna Hickman, the stud is renowned for its premium thoroughbred breeding and&nbs...