Photograph by Forest and Kim Starr, Wikimedia Commons
Quad bikes and Side-by-sides
The Government of Western Australia, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety have released an Information Sheet to highlight the issues with the Side-by-Side items of plant. The Side-by-Side is a four- or six-wheel item of plant with a ‘Roll Over’ protective bar set (ROPS) with seating for between two and six passengers, including the operator.
They are driven in a similar manner to a car, with a steering wheel and the operator in a seat on one side or the other of the item of plant. The issues faced by the configuration is very similar to the Quad Bikes. The issues generally emerge when driven at speed or over rough terrain and passengers fall or are injured when the item of plant rolls.
Legislating the use of seat belts
Many Fact Sheets and Safety Alerts discuss the issues when a side-by-side overturns or is involved in a collision, there is a risk of serious injured or death. Being thrown out of the vehicle, crushed by it, thrown around inside it or hitting loose objects is often the primary issue in the roll over.
Seat belts can assist keeping a person within the vehicle’s roll over protection zone and protect them from serious or fatal injuries. Owners of these vehicles have a responsibility to ensure that users of these vehicles are doing so, safely. This includes wearing their seat belt properly at all times whilst the vehicle is in motion. Some manufacturers of side-by-side models have a speed limiter that engages when the seat belt is not clipped in. Speed is a contributor to some incidents on side-by-side vehicles, particularly on uneven terrain and when driven at speed.
It is a common practice for operators to bypass the speed limiter by clipping the seat belt in behind them. When you do that, you are deliberately overriding a known safety control and increasing the risk or injury or death. Owners must ensure that operators are adequately trained and instructed not to do this. Additionally, there must be processes place when an operator is identified not complying to ensure that the practice does not continue.
Quad Bike Safety Factors for safe use
The Information sheet lists some of the key Safety factors that need to be addressed by the PCBU as being:
– Operating conditions
– Training and assessing operators
– Maintenance and repairs
– Operators and passengers
– Safety devices and lights
– Personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE)
– Children as operators and passengers
– Implementing processes to reduce the risks
The Information Sheet Prompts for the PCBU and workers conduct a pre-start check of the side-by-side before use, listing such items as:
– tyre wear and inflation
– lights
– horn (where fitted)
– seat belts
– brakes
– engine fluids
– damage
– making fluids
– mirrors.
NSW Side-by-Side and Quad Bikes Fact Sheets
NSW WorkSafe have produced a Fact Sheet for the side-by-side and Quad Bikes providing information about safety aspects to reduce risk including.
– choose the right vehicle for the task
– do a safe SSV driving course
– wear a seat belt if driving or are a passenger in a SSV
– consider wearing a helmet
– maintain and operate vehicle in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions
– don’t let kids ride adult-sized side-by-side vehicles.
WorkSafe Victoria Safety Alerts
Work Safe Victoria published Safety Alerts to highlight the safety issues of operating a side-by-side vehicle and Quad Bikes as it can pose a number of risks to drivers and passengers. They recommend ways to control risks when working including control measures including the following:
– Planning the work and vehicle suitability
– Rollover protection structures (ROPS), seat belts, doors and door nets
– Vehicle maintenance
– Operator age
– Communication
– Information, instruction, training and supervision
– Helmets
– Passengers
Each state Regulator highlights the need for wearing of seat belts and using appropriate helmets to reduce the risks associated with working with this Plant. Also stating that the vehicles have safety features for a reason and maintenance of these is imperative. Owners and operators of these vehicles should be aware of the hazards associated with operating the item of plant. Information, Training and Instruction for operators with monitoring with follow-up reviews to ensure that safe operation of the vehicles at all times.
If you are interested in our WHS Consultancy services, you can contact David, Andrew or Mark to discuss your Health and Safety Issues.
We have qualified and certified Safety Consultants that can assist you in your business and offer a range of WHS consulting services along with general and specific health and safety training courses.
Contact us today for an obligation free quote on any of our services.