Safe recovery of bogged vehicles and equipment

Learn how to prevent bogged vehicles, equipment or machinery on farms, and what to do if recovery is required.

Following wet weather, the risk of vehicles or farm equipment becoming bogged increases.

When attempting to recover a bogged vehicle or farm equipment there is the risk of serious injury or death.

Risks primarily involve the failure of recovery equipment and subsequent propulsion of straps, shackles, or winch ropes/cables.

You can manage these risks better by following these tips.

Tips for avoiding vehicles and farm equipment becoming bogged

A backhoe that has rolled down the embankment of a flooded creek
  1. Assess the working environment and be aware of the ground conditions. Check if the ground has completely dried out following heavy rain.
  2. Talk to your farm workers and work out a plan in case you need to recover a vehicle or farm equipment.
  3. Rethink using a vehicle or farm equipment in a location where there is a likelihood of getting bogged.
  4. Postpone work until conditions improve.
  5. Consider deflating tyres to a suitable lower pressure for the vehicle to improve traction footprint.
  6. For any water crossings or mud holes, check the depth and condition of the bottom. Also consider the current of a water crossing.
  7. Consider having suitable rated recovery equipment at hand if there is a possibility of being bogged.
  8. If your vehicle stops moving, do not continue to accelerate and spin the wheels. You are likely to dig the vehicle deeper. Re-assess the situation and consider a different recovery strategy.

Reduce the risk to yourself and others

If your vehicle or farm equipment becomes bogged, the following information provides advice to reduce the risk for yourself and others involved in the recovery.

  • Conduct a risk assessment and carry out recovery using your recovery plan. Always inspect recovery equipment to ensure it is not damaged and is fit for purpose.
  • Create an exclusion zone around the vehicle or farm equipment during any recovery activity. Keep people separated a safe distance in case recovery straps or other equipment fail and recoil. Only those people involved in the recovery should be in the exclusion zone.
  • Ensure anyone involved in the recovery is standing at 90 degrees to the tow line. Standing at either end of the tow line increases the risk of serious injury if the tow line breaks.
  • Ensure that effective communication is maintained at all times during the recovery by use of voice, radio, vehicle horn or hand signals.
  • Only use recovery points on the vehicle approved and rated by the manufacturer of the vehicle and/or fitted accessory.
  • Use ropes, straps and attachments that are correctly rated for the weight and type of recovery. Keeping in mind that a vehicle being recovered from mud can increase the weight rating of the vehicle two to three times the normal weight. Consider this when selecting appropriate rated equipment.
  • Use one or more weighted recovery dampeners to reduce the force of recoil should the recovery line break. Dampeners should be placed in the middle or at either end of the strap closer to the middle from the break point.
  • The use of any winch should not exceed the safe working load pulling tension rating and use winch rope blocks to reduce the pulling strain in the winch motor. Always read the recommendations of the winch manufacturer prior to use.
  • Abort the recovery if the vehicle is unable to be recovered safely.
  • Remember that a strap used in a snatch recovery could maintain tension following a recovery attempt. Do not attempt multiple snatch recoveries one after another as this can create a larger amount of tension and cause equipment failure.
  • Note that some recovery equipment such as straps are only meant to be used a set number of times. Use as directed by the manufacturer to reduce the possibility of failure.
  • Ensure that you have an emergency procedure in place in the event of an injury during the recovery.
  • If unsure of a recovery process for a vehicle or piece of farm equipment, engage an external competent person/business to assess and provide the correct equipment to undertake the recovery safely.

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