Home / ATV & UTV / Annual Farm Vehicle Safety Review

Annual Farm Vehicle Safety Review

Once a year, take a deliberate look at your vehicles, drivers, routes and rules. A structured review finds small problems before they become injuries.

Why do an annual review?

Equipment ages, workers change and routes and rules shift. A yearly check keeps your safety plan current and gives everyone a chance to raise concerns.

It also gives you a natural time to update training, repair items and confirm any rules that may have changed.

Think of the review as part of the farm's normal business, not as extra work. Many farm owners find that it saves money by finding wear before it causes a breakdown. Write down what you decide, so the next review can start from the last one.

• Equipment wears and ages
• Workers and routes change
• Rules and training needs shift

When is the best time?

Pick a quiet period before the busiest season, such as late winter or early spring, or after harvest. Allow enough time to do repairs before work begins.

Put the date on the calendar and treat it like any other important appointment.

If your farm has seasonal peaks in more than one season, consider a short review before each one as well as the main yearly review.

• Late winter or early spring
• After harvest
• Before each busy season

What should the review cover?

Walk through each vehicle with its manual and a checklist. Look at brakes, steering, tires, lights, mirrors, markings, safety devices, hitches and fire protection.

Then review drivers, training records, routes, parking, storage, fuel and your emergency plan.

Use official resources such as OSHA's agriculture pages and NIOSH guidance to refresh your checklist, and ask extension for sample forms. Do not copy lists that do not match your equipment. Take photos of problems you find, which helps when explaining a repair to a mechanic or dealer and when comparing to the next year.

• Each vehicle and its safety devices
• Lighting, marking and visibility
• Driver training and youth work rules
• Routes, intersections and parking
• Emergency kits, first aid and fire protection
• Insurance and records

Who should take part?

Include everyone who drives or works around vehicles, including family members and seasonal staff. Invite a trusted outsider, such as an extension educator, insurance safety adviser or fire department representative.

Fresh eyes spot things that you have stopped noticing.

Ask young drivers what they find hard or confusing. They often notice problems that experienced drivers have learned to ignore. Neighbors who run similar operations can also share what they check, though you should confirm any rule or requirement they mention with the official agency. A short call or visit often turns up an idea you had not considered, such as a better way to log repairs or a trouble spot on a local road.

• Family members who drive
• Seasonal and part-time staff
• An extension educator or insurance adviser
• A fire department representative

How do I handle what I find?

List each problem, decide on a fix, assign a person and set a date. Take dangerous machines out of service until repaired. Spend money first on the biggest risks.

Avoid blame. The goal is a safer farm, and people need to feel free to point out problems.

Set a firm rule that no vehicle returns to work with a known safety defect. If a part will take time to arrive, find another solution rather than using the machine. Share progress with the people who raised the problems, so they see that speaking up leads to action.

• List each problem
• Decide on a fix
• Assign a person and a date
• Take unsafe machines out of service

What records should I keep?

Keep your checklist, notes, repair receipts and training records in one place. Compare with last year's to see progress and recurring issues.

Share a short summary with the crew so everyone sees what changed.

If you have a safety committee or a regular crew meeting, include a short review summary and ask for feedback. People take ownership when they are part of the process. A one-page summary is easier to share and keep than a pile of papers.

• Completed checklist
• Notes and photos
• Repair receipts
• Training records

How can I make the review a habit?

Use the same simple checklist each year and update it as you learn. Combine it with refresher training and a brief family safety talk.

Celebrate improvements, and revisit any item that has not been fixed. Check official sources such as OSHA and NIOSH for updated guidance. Keep the review friendly and practical. People are more likely to take part honestly when they know the point is to fix problems, not to find fault, and when they see last year's findings were acted on.

• Use the same checklist each year
• Pair it with refresher training
• Revisit unfinished items
• Check OSHA and NIOSH for updates

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.