rules to play quad biking

Quad bikes can be two wheel drive or four wheel drive and are sometimes referred to as four wheel motorbikes. They are only one of many vehicles that are useful for work on farms.

Riders of all ages are at risk of death. The age range of those who have died broadly reflects the age distribution of farmers. The majority of those who have died were quad bike operators, however passengers and bystanders are also at risk. The majority of fatal quad bike incidents involve males, but females are also at risk. Quad bike related deaths are associated with a wide range of work activities in agriculture and horticulture. A significant number of on farm deaths are associated with recreational activities on farms. There is a propensity for quad bikes to roll over and cause serious injury or death to operators. Incorrect loading of the quad bike has been associated with rollover deaths. Terrain, slope and surface appear to play key roles in quad bike related deaths. The head and chest are the most common body parts injured. Most of these injuries are caused by crushing between the quad bike and the ground or other surface, while others occur when operators are flung onto hard surfaces in a crash. Most injuries and deaths involve the head and cervical spine, crush injuries and asphyxia.

Vehicle rollover is a common event in quad bike incidents. Quad bikes can roll over in any direction

The OHS Act applies to all workplaces, including farms. As a farmer, you may be an employer, a self employed person, a manager, or a person in control of the farm and as such, you have legal responsibilities under the OHS Act. These include ensuring that the farm is a safe working environment without risk to the health of your employees all people (including family members, employees, visitors, contractors) are not exposed to risks to their health and safety arising from farm activities the means of entering and leaving the farm are safe and without risk to health. If you are an employer, you should consult with your employees and any health and safety representatives (HSRs) on matters that might affect their health and safety report serious incidents to WorkSafe Victoria. The reporting duty also applies if you are self employed. The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007 have more detailed requirements for the identification and control of hazards associated with the use of plant such as quad bikes. If your employees use quad bikes, you must identify any hazards associated with the quad bikes and their use, and ensure that any risks are eliminated or reduced provide and maintain quad bikes that are safe provide and maintain safe work practices relating to quad bike operation, and provide employees with sufficient training and supervision so that they can work safely with quad bikes.

Off road requirements quad bikes used strictly on private property do not need to be registered and their operators do not have to hold a valid drivers licence. On road requirements quad bikes used on road, even for short periods, must be registered and on road operators must hold a valid car licence (ie Learners Permits are not sufficient.) Primary producers may apply to VicRoads to register a quad bike as a Primary Producer Special Vehicle. VicRoads regulations state that Primary Producer Special Vehicles can be registered to a primary producer who only uses the vehicle in connection with his business as a primary producer, or for travel between his premises and the premises of another primary producer to carry out business. The other business must be within a radius of 25 kilometres from the residence of the vehicles operator so the vehicle can be used on the land of that primary producer.

It is also important to consider the load specifications of particular quad bikes and what attachments are available. The manufacturers specified load limit includes the operator, the load being carried, plus any attachment used. These should be factored into the total weight of any load and will impact upon the safe choice you make about a particular quad bike. Ask suppliers about the suitability of their range of quad bikes and attachments for the tasks you want to do on your farm. In the final analysis, safety must be the paramount consideration.

Farm quad bike operating rules are the basic rules for operating quad bikes on the property. When developing these rules, be guided by the manufacturers specifications and the safety warnings on the vehicle. At a minimum, farm quad bike operating rules should cover information about the make and models of quad bikes on your farm who is authorised to operate each quad bike what training and induction is required information that passengers are not to be carried on quad bikes what protective gear must be worn, how to care for it and how to store it what each quad bike can be used for, and what it cant be used for where it can be ridden. Are parts of the farm quad bike no go zones? Are there designated tracks? what conditions each quad bike can be used in, and what conditions it cannot be used what speed the quad bike is to be ridden on tracks, paddocks and around buildings how to safely load and unload each quad bike and how much it can carry how the quad bike will be loaded for transport how the quad bike will be stored what attachments are to be used with the quad bike when and how the quad bike is to be maintained or defects rectified what communication systems are to be used by quad bike operators on your farm.

In many quad bike related fatalities, the victim was not noticed as missing for at least 24 hours, sometimes considerably longer. Some of these lives could have been saved if the victim communicated they were injured and received help promptly. As farm employees often work alone, it is important someone else knows their planned movements. If they are late returning, a phone or two way radio call will keep concerned parties informed. If there is no answer, the other person can arrange for someone to search for the person. Developing a communication plan is a good safety strategy. Once established, it will soon become automatic.

No operator should use a quad bike for farm work without first receiving training. Training is essential to help reduce the risk of serious injury and death associated with quad bike use. Training and supervision ensure the farm safety systems are communicated to employees and that employees follow the systems. The manufacturer, supplier, an external training provider or yourself (if you have the necessary skills and expertise), can provide training. Some suppliers provide training options at the time of purchase.

The operator must be able to safely operate the quad bike. Some aspects to consider when matching a quad bike to an operator include Size of operator Large or heavy framed people require a larger vehicle, smaller people require a smaller vehicle match the quad bike to the size of the person. Operator competence Some quad bikes are more difficult to operate than others based on their speed, agility and other performance characteristics. Ensure the operator has the skill and experience to operate the quad bike safely. Operator age Use of adult sized quad bikes by persons under the age of 16 is not recommended by manufacturers.