Safe Use of ATVs

Dear Reader 

All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are now a popular and commonly used item of machinery in farming, forestry and estate management. They offer many benefits such as their adaptability for a wide variety of uses, low running costs and easy operation. However, they do carry significant safety risks and it is important that employers and operators are aware of the potential hazards in order to minimise the incidence of injury or even death.

In this issue of Growing Skills we look at the safe operation of ATVs (including quad bikes and sit-ins) and provide guidance as to the steps you must take to ensure you are doing everything reasonably possible to keep your farms and estates safe. If you know of anyone else that may benefit from receiving this information simply click on the button above to forward it to them.

Best wishes

James


Safe operation of ATVs: What You Need to Know

ATVs are an essential part of rural life. They are designed to cope with a wide variety of terrain and have multiple uses. They offer a quick, convenient and low cost way to get around farms and estates and we have seen them come in to their own particularly during lambing season. But, it is important to always keep in mind that there exist certain operating conditions and parameters to the safe use of ATVs and working outside of these parameters can make them unstable and increase the risk of injury.

In recent years high profile quad bike casualties such as Rik Mayall and Ozzy Osbourne have served to increase public awareness as to the risks associated with ATVs. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimate that there are over 1,000 serious ATV injuries every year.

It is wrong for operators to assume that because they are experienced drivers or motorcyclists that they are automatically able to ride an ATV. Indeed, it is a legal requirement under the Provision and Use of Work Regulations 1988 for employers to provide adequate training and to ensure that only employees who have received this training are permitted to ride ATVs.

Hints and Tips

So what are the guidelines you need to follow?

  • Many accidents occur when riding new routes or on steep ground for the first time. Always conduct a risk assessment prior to each operation to ensure that any risk due to environmental conditions is kept to a minimum
  • Quad bikes are not designed for passengers but other ATVs are. Before carrying passengers always ensure that the stability of the vehicle is not compromised
  • Likewise, when towing a trailer always ensure that the load does not affect the weight balance, steering and effectiveness of the brakes
  • Without fail make sure that every operator has received adequate training including how to ride on steep slopes, at speed, with attachments and how to move their body around to keep the wheels on the ground at all times
  • Invest in the correct protective clothing including gloves, eye protection and ankle-covering footwear
  • Always wear an appropriate crash helmet such as a specific ATV or motorbike helmet.
  • Ensure operators have the required agility to operate the vehicle safety and react quickly to changing terrain and conditions.

The Skills Centre has recently produced a short instructional video to demonstrate some of the skills required to ride an ATV safely. Please click here.


Rural Skills Courses

At the Rural Skills Centre we offer the following ATV courses:

  • ATV (Sit in) (LANTRA Integrated Test & Assessment): This course is designed for people who use Sit in ATVs (such as Kawazaki mules or JCB Ground Hog) in working situations
  • ATV Quad Bike Operation Including Implements and Loads (LANTRA Integrated Test & Assessment): An essential course for every operator to ensure they understand, utilise and maintain the machine correctly to ensure safe operation and reliability.
  • ATV Quad Trekking: A half day quad bike trek, scrambling over 100 acres of the Cotswolds undulating countryside. After a safety briefing and initial training on flat ground you are ready. Time to hit the tracks and really get the most out of your escorted trek

 


For more information and course dates please go to http://rac.ac.uk/study/training-courses/rural-skills/rural-skills-courses/vehicles

Send to a Friend - You may send this newsletter to a friend
 
You have received this issue of our newsletter because you requested it or I thought you would find it useful. If you would rather not receive any more issues, please follow this link.

If this issue has been forwarded to you and you would like to receive regular issues, please follow this link.