HWSA pushes for quad bike safety

In a bid to reduce fatalities and injuries from on-farm use of quad bikes, the Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA) has endorsed measures aimed at safety improvements across the quad bike and farm industries. The safety measures, which have been developed by a Trans-Tasman quad bike industry working group, include the introduction of nationally recognised rider training and making the wearing of approved helmets mandatory.

There have been more than 130 deaths on farms across Australia involving quad bikes since 2000. In New Zealand, on an average five people are killed each year on farms and over 845 are injured.

“Most fatalities are a result of head injuries or from being trapped under overturned vehicles,” said HWSA chair John Watson. The industry strategy includes: improvements to point-of-sale material to guide farmers in purchasing the vehicle best suited to their needs and profile; providing farmers with the option to fit safety improvements such as devices to protect riders in case of rollover, under certain conditions; the introduction of nationally recognised rider training; guidance materials to assist in providing a better match between quad bike accessories and the host vehicle; compliance with manufacturers’ guidelines in relation to passenger carrying, load requirements and rider age; and the mandatory wearing of approved helmets.