Quad Bike Checks Result In Almost 200 Enforcement Notices

Nearly two fifths of the 500 farms visited by health and safety inspectors during spring to check on quad bike safety were issued with an enforcement notice.

The visits are part of the Department of Labour’s quad bike safety campaign, which aims to reduce the number of farmers being killed or seriously hurt because of unsafe behaviour.

850 people are injured while riding quad bikes on farms very year. Five die.

“Of the 518 farms visited, our inspectors issued 197 enforcement notices,” says the Department’s General Manager Central, Ona de Rooy.

“These range from written warnings, to improvement notices, infringement notices and prohibition notices – stopping quad bikes from being used until safety issues have been resolved,” Ms de Rooy says.

“While close to 200 enforcement notices were issued, we are pleased that many farmers put steps in place to improve safety – either purchasing helmets or making sure their workers were properly trained in riding quad bikes.

“In several cases farmers actually requested inspectors issue them with a written warning, to show their employees how seriously they were taking safety.”

The quad bike safety campaign has four key steps: always wear a helmet, make sure riders are experienced or trained, never let kids ride adult quad bikes, and chose the right vehicle for the job.

A recent monitoring report on the campaign shows a 200% increase in quad bike helmet sales in the past year, and more farmers reporting they are wearing them.

“This is excellent progress just one year into the campaign – however there is still have a long way to go if we are to see a reduction in quad bike injuries and deaths on farms,” Ms de Rooy says.

“It’s especially important that during the summer months - when many farmers tend to work longer hours – that farmers place paramount importance on quad bike safety. Longer hours can lead to fatigue and an increase in accidents.

“Our campaign will be continuing into 2012 – but let me be clear - everyone has a responsibility to improve quad bike safety. Together farmers, farm workers, employers, government, industry groups and the community must work together to reduce the work toll.”