A quad bike is a motorised vehicle with four wheels designed for off-road use that has a central seat designed to be straddled by the rider, handle bars for steering control, individual hand operated levers for front and rear brake control (foot for rear only) and a hand operated throttle. A side-by-side vehicle (SSV) is similar type of off-road vehicle that has more similarities to a car than a motorbike. A SSV has two or side-by-side seats, a steering wheel, a brake pedal that operates all brakes, a throttle pedal and seat belts. They are commonly fitted with a roll cage and a rear cargo tray. The number of quad bikes available in Australia, and internationally has increased substantially over the last decade. It is estimated that within Australia, there were approximately 270,000 quad bikes in use in 2010. Rural agricultural communities have welcomed quad bikes with an estimated 80% of farm enterprises in Australia reporting using at least one quad on the property. While also popular in the United States, their use has predominantly centred on recreational activities. In recent years it has become increasingly evident that the use of quad bikes is resulting in a considerable number of deaths and injuries in Australia and New Zealand and internationally. More than 219 Australians have died from quad-related injuries since 2001 (Personal Communication, Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety) and quad bikes are the leading cause of non-intentional deaths on farms. Such quad bike trauma has a significant economic impact on Australian society. The total economic cost of quad-related fatalities in Australia from 2001 to 2010 has been estimated at $288 million or an average of $2.3 million per death. The most serious incidents involving quad bikes occur in agricultural settings with quad bikes reported to cause more than twice as many on-farm deaths than any other type of farm vehicle and 13% of all on-farm deaths (2001-2004). All farming enterprises, including family farms and sole operators, come under the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act (2011) which states that they have a duty to identify and manage foreseeable risks on their enterprise. Quad bikes are defined as plant equipment on a farming enterprise and have been identified as requiring special monitoring by national and state workplace health and safety authorities (see Safe Work Australia, 2015). The aim of this project was to understand quad bike use and the complex circumstances surrounding incidents that occur as a result of their use. In particular the project identified high risk uses and why quad bikes are chosen for these applications. The severity and type of injury sustained by quad bike riders was also investigated. A wide variety of data sources were examined to capture a detailed picture of quad-related trauma in South Australia. This report is comprised of four separate but complementary studies: 1. An analysis of quad bike-related workers’ compensation claims in South Australia; 2. Characteristics of quad bike-related fatalities in South Australia; 3. Identification of quad bike injury in hospital admissions; 4. In-depth analysis of quad bike use and incidents in South Australia With respect to terminology, quad bikes are also known as “All Terrain Vehicles” (ATVs) or “four. wheelers”. The use of the term “All-Terrain Vehicle” for a quad bike has been criticised. Coroners in Australia and New Zealand stated that the term was misleading as it implies they are suitable for use on all terrain yet they are prone to roll over in certain terrain. In this report, the vehicles will be referred to as “quad bikes” or “quads”. Findings from this project are discussed within the framework of the hierarchy of controls, to assist in the development and implementation of engineering, regulatory and behavioural solutions that might reduce quad bike-related injuries in the agricultural sector. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting