Executive Director of SafeWork NSW Peter Dunphy has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to work to reduce quad bike deaths across the State.
“SafeWork NSW is currently reviewing the findings of the NSW Coronial Inquiry into quad bike deaths alongside the University of NSW Transport and Road Safety quad bike crash performance project recommendations,” Mr Dunphy said.
“There are around 200,000 quad bikes in operation across Australia in both a commercial and recreational capacity,” he said.
“Since 2001, more than 200 people have died as a result of quad bike incidents with 67 per cent of those occurring on farms. Of these, around 20 per cent involve children under 16.
“We also know that Quad bikes are currently the leading cause of death on Australian farms.*
In 2013, SafeWork NSW funded a $1.3 million world-first testing and research project into quad bike safety undertaken by The University of NSW Transport and Road Safety Unit.
The results of the Quad Bike Performance Research Project were released in July and produced 24 recommendations including:
- introducing a consumer safety rating system for new vehicles
- retrofitting of operator protective devices for existing on-farm vehicles
- increasing helmet wearing
- restricting children under 16 from operating an adult quad bike
- increasing education and awareness about vehicle selection and safe use
“Initiatives recommended in the research report were considered as part of the NSW and QLD Coronial Inquiries into quad bike deaths,” Mr Dunphy said.
“The research recommendations and outcomes of the coronial findings have the potential to lead to major improvements in quad bike design and safety.
“The NSW Government and SafeWork NSW remain committed to working with the agricultural industry and other work health and safety jurisdictions to make major inroads into reducing the unacceptable levels of quad bike deaths in our community.”
*Data sourced from The Australian Centre for Agricultural health and Safety
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