Heavy vehicles and machinery are at the heart of grim safety reminders for farmers this summer.

12 people have died in farm vehicle accidents in the last year, almost half of them have involved tractors.

Just this week a 64-year-old man died when his tractor rolled on a steep farm in North Canterbury while spraying crops

WorkSafe's agriculture manager, Al McCone said they tend to see more accidents in the warmer months.

"That's the time of year when tractors are at greatest use, doing things with crops, carting stuff around the farm like fencing equipment."

However, it is the most experienced farmers who are the most likely to be seriously injured at work as opposed to young ones.

McCone said more than half the people that die in farm accidents are aged over 55.

"So that gives lie to the myth that it's young and inexperienced people doing things that are killing themselves."

The latest incident has seen WorkSake remind farmers to make more use of their seatbelts.

The group said belts could have prevented many of the deaths over the last year.

McCone said even if you're working in an enclosed cab, you need a seatbelt to be safe.

"So when something goes wrong, they are being thrown around inside the cab. And if they are not thrown out, it still means they are exposed to a number forces which they just can't survive."

It is not known if the latest victim was wearing a seatbelt.