Rules to play Quad Biking

1. 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. .....

Quad bike use

2. 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 signi .....

Rollover

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

Health and safety

4. 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 hea .....

Registration and licensing

5. 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 .....

Loads and attachments

6. 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 .....

Farm quad bike operating rules

7. 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 .....

Communication systems

8. 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 n .....

Training and supervision

9. 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 train .....

Operators

10. 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 .....

Conditions and tasks

11. The conditions on your farm and the tasks that will be done are also key considerations when thinking about using a quad bike. When riding in sand and mud, specific riding skills are required, particularly in maintaining vehicle momentum and stability. Other factors that can affect quad bike operation are seasonal conditions like frost, snow or flooding. Attachments, liquid loads and multi tasking are risks that can be managed. Some techniques fo .....

Liquid loads and tanks

12. Liquid loads, either carried on the quad bike or towed, are unstable because the contents can shift when cornering or traversing slopes. This decreases quad bike stability and increases the likelihood of rollover. Tanks fitted with baffles are a better option, but they do not completely reduce the risks associated with liquid loads. When carrying liquid loads, include the weight of the contents of the tank in your load calculations. One litre of .....

Multi tasking

13. Where a quad bike operator undertakes a task (such as spraying or mustering) while operating a quad bike, their skill level needs to be higher than that required for simple riding. Multi tasking increases risk because the operator may focus on the task rather than operating the vehicle. Mustering provides a good example of this. Quad bike operators focus on the livestock rather than the ground they are riding over and may not be aware of unexpect .....

Quad bikes for transport

14. The following steps should be taken to load your quad bike. 1. Read the operators manual to identify the maximum safe slope for loading. Ramps will need to be longer the higher the tray on the transport vehicle. 2. Select a suitable site to load and unload the quad bike. Use a loading bank or platform whenever possible. 3. Box type trailers may be lower than other options and therefore safer to use. 4. Remove loads from the quad bike. Empty spray .....

Storing a quad bike

15. Store under cover if possible. 1. Before putting the quad bike away report any maintenance issues so they can be attended to before it is next used. Consider disabling the quad bike until repairs are completed. 2. Store any associated quad bike equipment (such as spray tanks) securely. 3. Refer to the operators manual if the quad bike is to be stored for a long period. 4. Remove keys to prevent unauthorised use. .....

MOT certificates

16. Quad bikes used on the road need a valid MOT certificate if they are more than 3 years old. .....

Driving licence

17. To drive a quad bike on the road you need to have a full car licence or a category B1 licence if it was issued before January 1997. .....

Insurance

18. You must have third party insurance to drive a quad bike on the road. .....

Passengers

19. A quad bike can only carry passengers if it is designed to do so and has the right number of seats. Check with the manufacturer if youre not sure. .....

Crash helmets

20. Quad bike drivers and passengers dont have to wear crash helmets, but its recommended. .....

Using a quad bike off road

21. You dont need a driving licence to ride a quad bike off road. You dont have to tax and register your quad bike if youre only going to use it off road. However, there is an off road register where you can record the details of your off road quad bike, which could help the police find it if its stolen. .....

Vehicle tax

22. You dont have to pay vehicle tax on quad bikes used for agriculture, horticulture or forestry. If you do have to pay tax, the class will depend on how you use your quad bike limited use tax class for bikes used on the road agricultural machine class for bikes not licensed for road use. .....

Unauthorised access to the quad bike

23. The hazard is people being able to ride the quad bike without the knowledge or permission of the farm or bike owner. Unattended quad bikes can be a temptation to people untrained or unfamiliar with the bikes or the farm whether they are visitors, young children or workers. .....

Operating a quad bike

24. The hazard is the activity of riding the quad bike. Operating them can be dangerous if you dont know what youre doing; they may not look it but quad bikes are powerful and complex pieces of machinery. The rider needs to shift and use their body weight to control the bike. This is called active riding. Quad bike riding skills are not intuitive, and need to be learned through riding experience and training. Riders who are unfamiliar with the part .....

Personal factors

25. The hazard is the rider being impaired due to fatigue, stress, attitude (e.g. over confidence, recklessness) or being under the influence of drugs and alcohol. .....

Quad bike maintenance

26. A properly maintained quad bike is a safer vehicle. Regular, careful pre operation checks and routine maintenance will keep your quad bike in reliable working condition. If you are uncertain about carrying out a maintenance task correctly, take it to a suitably qualified repairer. .....