QuadWatch

Quad bike fatalities in 2013

As of 4 June 2013, 8 people have been killed while riding a quad bike. Four of these deaths were the result of a roll over.

Quad bike fatalities tables

• 2013 quad bike fatalities as of 4 June 2013
• 2012 quad bike fatalities
• 2011 quad bike fatalities

Quad bike fatalities summaries

• Summary of 2011 to 2012 quad bike fatalities
• Summary of 2001 to 2010 quad bike fatalities

Latest news

15 May 2013

New Zealand Government farmer Landcorp will not be using quad bikes on its new farms, and is limiting use of the vehicles elsewhere, as it looks for a safer and more suitable alternative.

The move comes amid continuing concerns about the safety of quads, with Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment data showing that on average each year 850 people are injured riding quad bikes on farms, and five die. View the article Landcorp limiting quad bike use.

26 April 2013

Safe Work Australia Chief Executive Officer, Mr Rex Hoy has called for quad bike manufacturers to immediately reconsider their position on fitting crush protection devices to quad bikes to help prevent more quad bike deaths or life-changing injuries. View the call to stop more quad bike deaths media release

April 2013

A recent study in the ANZ Journal of Surgery showed All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) injuries are rising at an alarming rate in New Zealand, with a 42 per cent increase in hospital admissions at Waikato between 2009 and 2010. View the article Quad bike injuries in Waikato, New Zealand: an institutional review from 2007–2011.

What is it?

QuadWatch is a proposed Australian Government initiative bringing together industry, manufacturers, quad bike users and government to improve quad bike safety. QuadWatch aims to raise awareness of safe quad bike practices by establishing a network to promote information exchange. By bringing interested parties together farmers and quad bike users will have a central point of safety information, guidance material and contact details of relevant work health and safety regulators in their state or territory.

QuadWatch - Frequently Asked Questions

Subscribe to receive the latest news and updates on QuadWatch.

What will it do?

QuadWatch will provide farmers, quad bike users and the community with practical information and assistance to help minimise risk of a quad bike fatality or injury. Information will include:

• selecting a suitable vehicle
• safety protection devices available
• training on the safe use of quad bikes, and
• personal protective equipment selection like helmets.

QuadWatch will enable open community consultation and discussion on quad bikes and their use. It will provide people with relevant information, data and research for informed discussion on quad bike safety.

How will it work?

Safe Work Australia has developed a QuadWatch webpage to provide safety information, relevant data and research and contacts details of industry associations, state and territory work health and safety regulators, manufacturers and community groups involved in quad bike safety activities.

The QuadWatch webpage will enable people to easily obtain accurate information on quad bike safety. The webpage will also detail the safety requirements for quad bike users under work health and safety laws. It will also provide information on training and the specific safety devices available.

The longer term objective of the initiative is to enable farmers, workers, recreational users, the community, manufacturers and government agencies to cooperatively work together to prevent serious injuries and fatalities from quad bike use.

View the QuadWatch media release issued by the Hon Bill Shorten MP

Discussion paper

The discussion paper on quad bike safety closed 28 September 2012.View the submissions received.

Quad bike safety forum

A quad bike safety forum was held in Melbourne on Friday, 19 October 2012.

Key findings of discussion paper and forum

Safe Work Australia’s report to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations outlines key findings from the discussion paper and forum on design and engineering controls for improving quad bike safety.

Design and engineering controls for improving quad bike safety: key findings from the discussion paper
and forum (Design and engineering controls for improving quad bike safety: key findings from the discussion paper and forum PDF 194kb | Design and engineering controls for improving quad bike safety: key findings from the discussion paper and forumDocx 110kb )

View the media release issued by the Hon Bill Shorten MP

Information on quad bike safety published by work health and safety authorities

• Comcare
• NT Worksafe
• SafeWork SA
• Workplace Health and Safety Queensland
• Workplace Standards Tasmania
• Worksafe ACT
• Workcover NSW
• Worksafe Victoria
• Worksafe WA

Related sites for additional quad bike information

• The Australian centre for Agricultural Health and Safety
• FarmSafe Australia
• The Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities
• Monash University Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research

Draft Code of Practice for Managing Risks of Plant in Rural Workplaces

The draft Code of Practice for Managing Risks of Plant in Rural Workplaces contains guidelines for the safe use of quad bikes on farms. The draft Code of Practice was released for a public comment period which closed Friday 24 August 2012.

To view the draft Code of Practice and submit your comments go to the public comment page on the Safe Work Australia website.

More information

To contribute to QuadWatch and for more information about contact Safe Work Australia.
Email: info@safeworkaustralia.gov.au
Phone: 1300 551 832