The Federal Government has announced that it will work co-operatively with farming and community organisations to halt the growing number of Quad bike related deaths.

 

Quad bikes are the leading cause of fatalities on Australian farms, with over 150 people killed in quad bike incidents since 2001.

 

The Federal Government will work with farming organisations, unions, industry and community groups to raise awareness of quad bike safety and provide farmers wither stronger support networks.

 

The announcement comes after a roundtable meeting in Melbourne between Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Bill Shorten and senior representatives from farmer organisations, industry, unions, farm safety organisations, officials from Safe Work Australia and other stakeholders to improve quad bike safety.

 

“Death and injury are increasing at an unacceptable rate. AgHealth found that 23 people died last year and 10 people have died so far this year as a result of quad bike incidents,” said Mr Shorten. 

 

“All options have to be on the table to reduce trauma. I’m disturbed that 20-30 years solely relying on training and education does not seem to be reducing death and injury.” 

 

“In 2011 AgHealth reported almost 80 percent of all quad bike fatalities occurred on farms and since 2001 almost half the deaths have been due to rollovers. 

 

To support these local networks there will be a QuadWatch webpage established and maintained by Safe Work Australia.  

 

The QuadWatch webpage will provide information and links on how to reduce quad bike incidents, quad bike safety research, work health and safety information and contact details for state and territory regulatory bodies all on the one site. 

 

Community groups, academic researchers and state and territory regulatory bodies will be encouraged to provide content to this website ensuring Australian farmers have the most up to date information to protect themselves, their families and their workers from quad bike fatalities.  

 

In addition to QuadWatch, Safe Work Australia will release an issues paper before the end of August seeking submissions on potential improvements to quad bike safety including crush protection devices.  

 

The QuadWatch website can be found at:www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/QuadWatch