FMG provides insurance cover for over 35,000 tractors around the country. Last year an average of 17 tractors a week were involved in damaging accidents, with rollovers being a leading cause of significant tractor damage.
With the increasing use of front-end loaders at this time of the year, here’s a timely reminder of the risks we’ve seen.
Tips to avoid rollovers
* Drive with the front-end loader as low as safely possible to maintain a lower centre of gravity, especially if carrying a load.
* Avoid driving around corners with the front-end loader up, especially if carrying a load.
* Reduce ground speed before turning into a corner. Even a small reduction in speed has a significant reduction on the forces causing a tractor to roll.
* Be conscious of the centre of gravity and balance of towed trailers/wagons/ spreaders etc., especially on hill country. The tractor may be stable, but an unstable trailer has the potential to pull the tractor down with it.
For more information on tractor safety, please view our Tractor Advice Guide under the Advice section on our website www.fmg.co.nz
1 in 10 CLAIMS ARE FROM OBJECTS FALLING FROM A FRONT-END LOADER
The most frequent cause of tractor damage comes from objects falling from the front-end loader. This damage usually occurs to the bonnet area or cab and windscreen of the tractor. The most commonly dropped objects are branches, hay/baleage and buckets, forks or grabs that aren’t properly attached.
1 in 10 CLAIMS ARE FROM TRACTORS ROLLING OR SLIDING INTO A DRAIN OR GULLY
Rollovers are a leading cause of significant damage. Using a front-end loader changes the centre of gravity and balance of a tractor making it more likely to roll or tip. This could put you and your tractor out of work leading to lost time, injury or worse.
