Support for CPDs on quad bikes

Safe Work Australia, Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (AgHealth) and Country Women’s Association of Australia (CWAA) have joined together to support the fitting of crush protection devices (CPDs) to quad bikes before more deaths and serious injuries occur.

Meeting recently as part of National Farm Safety Week, they called on manufacturers to urgently reconsider their position on the fitting of CPDs to quad bikes to reduce the likelihood of death and injury as a result of a crush or asphyxiation when quad bikes roll.

Chief Executive Officer Rex Hoy, Safe Work Australia, said 11 quad bike users have already been killed this year.

“Numbers alone do not begin to convey the pain and suffering involved in these incidents. However, they do indicate there is something inherently very dangerous about quad bikes in agricultural use, farm riding and leisure use,” said Hoy.

Mid-year figures released earlier this month by AgHealth in its Farm Injury Report Mid-Year Snapshot continue to show quad bike incidents as the leading cause of death and injury on Australian farms.

“Clearly, existing quad bike standards are not adequate,” said Hoy.

“How many more lives need to be lost before manufacturers finally take action?”

Recognising the immediate need for safety improvement, the CWAA established a national policy in 2012 for all quad bikes locally made or imported and used in Australia to be fitted with suitably tested CPDs. 

AgHealth continues to lead and collaborate with academics on research to improve quad bike safety and reduce the number of injuries and deaths.

“I commend the continuing efforts of CWAA and AgHealth in taking action to improve quad bike safety and keep Australian farmers and their families safe,” said Hoy.

“These organisations frequently witness hands on the detrimental impact a death or serious injury has not only on the farmer’s family but the whole community.

“It is time manufacturers took action and listened to Australian research and the community.”

Safe Work Australia will continue to work with farmers, unions, manufacturers, community organisations and regulators to improve quad bike safety and reduce these tragic statistics.