The reality is WorkSafe recognises quad bikes, when used correctly and appropriately, are an effective farm tool.
But WorkSafe wants to stop the deaths and many more injuries that occur through the use of these vehicles on farms each year.
My son’s working on a farm that has side-by-sides and he reckons they’re the best thing ever – and there’s the plus factor of being able to carry passengers.
But I have a quad and I use it year-round for light jobs and to go around my stock and check on the lambs.
That said, I’m keenly aware quads are a factor in 25% of deaths on farms and at least two people every day need medical attention because of them.
They get used for loads exceeding the manufacturer’s limits, they get taken out on wet, slippery or snowy slopes and they get driven too fast or by people who aren’t well enough trained, too young or not physically capable of handling them properly.
I’ve rolled a quad in the past – snow was coming, I was in a hurry to get up the hill to check on some animals and I know I was going a bit fast.
It was only through luck that I walked away from that.
The quad is still my go-to vehicle for light jobs but, nowadays, I think more about the job ahead, the conditions and the slope of the land.
If it isn’t safe for a quad I’ll choose another vehicle like a tractor or two- wheeler.
I’ll tow small loads with the quad but if I’m towing something heavy, like a load of fence strainers, I’ll get the ute.
WorkSafe and manufacturers both provide guidance for the appropriate use of quad bikes.
For me, it’s simply about knowing the limits of my quad and driving it the way it’s meant to be driven – and making sure anyone else who is going to be using it knows that too.
It’s a good idea not to multi-task when operating a quad, they require 100% attention.
