Getting active to achieve safer quad riding

01-10-2008 | Not Specified

To get farmers riding ATVs more safely does not mean having to wrap them up in cotton wool. Just getting them to ride smarter and more actively would be enough.

ATV riding instructor John James disagrees with some of the recommendations from Massey researcher Dave Moore, who has recommended such devices as reversing beepers and twist throttle hand grips on ATVs.

Much of James' tutoring time is encouraging ATV riders to be active on the bike platform, moving their body in synchronicity with the bike's direction and angle. It is not a technique for the casual, and involves standing on the foot pegs, putting weight back when going downhill, and thrusting the torso forward when ascending a hill, and leaning into corners.

"If you are actively riding the quad, a twist throttle would be no good, you could not operate that safely."

He emphasises the ATV design is unforgiving, with almost zero tolerance for error - one slip and you're literally dead in some instances.

His surveys of farm staff attending his course consistently reveals at least half have had an accident at some stage, almost always involving using the bike as a moving platform while doing another job like heading off a runaway animal or spraying on a slope.

Watch load limits

In typically innovative fashion, New Zealand agri-businesses have adapted equipment to fit ATVs, not least spray tanks. James fingers these as key causes of ATV rollovers, supported by Dave Moore's own survey work several years ago.

"You can have a lot of load sloshing around, shifting the centre of gravity quickly, and easily shifting the bike, crushing riders against banks, or causing rollovers."

He recommends a trailed tank with a long hose, parking the machine and walking to weeds to spray, rather than using a short-hosed wand.

Load limits in general are constantly over-ridden, and the manual so often put straight in the bottom drawer will state any load limit is subject to being carried on flat terrain, often a rarity on NZ farms.

Towing heavier loads

Bigger bikes now 30% heavier and more powerful than 10 years ago have simply meant more is pulled with them, and the risk of jack-knifing and rollover being more catastrophic with the heavier weights towed.

Greater use of palm kernel extract on dairy farms now sees quads towing up to 1.2 tonne and performing tasks more suited to a tractor with a trailer attached.

Quad set up

James believes dealers should take more interest in how the expensive new machine fits its key rider, moving handle bars into a position that keeps the posture upright and elbows straighter.

He had one client who complained of muscle pain in his throttle hand, fixed simply by raising the handlebars.

He repeatedly sees new quads delivered after a service with over inflated tyres and bearings too tight and brakes not adjusted properly.

On-going maintenance should include a regular hose-down, and an investment of 15 minutes for a weekly check on a piece of expensive equipment that can often demand thousands of dollars of repairs if neglected.

Get helmeted and registered

A helmet may not only save a life, but it also reflects a belief in safety and an effort to improve it on the farm.

James also says quads should be registered not only for legal reasons but as part of a safety culture on-farm where the machines may be travelling many kilometres on public roads.

"Ultimately we don't need to get rid of quads. They are great machines and there simply is nothing as versatile to replace them. As farming becomes more corporate though, we need to see more genuine responsibility from the sector for the people using these machines."

Safety leadership from the top down is a great place to start. James advocates leading by example, implementing safety plans and ensuring staff participate and are proud to develop a safety culture in their place of work.

"I have been to many farms where the owners have been proactive and developed and implemented safety plans, while the neighbour ignores the opportunity and sadly, is injured in a farm accident. I need to ask the question, ‘Who is subsidizing who?'"

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