WorkSafe Victoria has launched a new farm safety guide at the Country Womens’ Association’s State Conference in Melbourne urging members to help make the state’s farms safer.
The farm safety guide targets the safety of all terrain vehicles (ATV) which are responsible for around 10 deaths each year around Australia.
Since July 2006 there have been four fatalities involving ATVs on Victorian farms.
The total number of injuries is not known but a new United States research has found the injury to death rate involving ATVs was 210:1.
The new farm safety guide, developed by the Victorian Farm Safety Centre at Ballarat University and farm sector groups, provides case studies of ATV crashes and tips to maximise safety of the machines.
Launching the farm safety guide, Director of WorkSafe Victoria’s Programs and Projects Division, Sophie Anastasov said women could play a significant role in ensuring farms were as safe as possible.
“ATVs, or quad bikes as they’re sometimes known, are popular, handy around the farm and at times great fun. This farm safety guide will help everyone on farms improve their chances of making it through to tomorrow.
Sophie Anastasoy urged women to help WorkSafe Victoria make a difference by influencing the safety behaviours of partners, family members and employees.
“In identifying problems and how to fix them the farm safety guide shows how to create a case for higher standards to be applied.
“As mums, wives, employers, employees we don’t have to deal with the loss of family and friends. We can make a difference because we can make a difference”.
“We cannot always eliminate all risks, but we can minimise them and prevent the various factors that cause injuries from coming together”.
The farm safety guide was developed in response to the recommendations of the Parliament’s Rural and Regional Services and Development Committee’s inquiry into the causes of deaths and injury on Victorian Farms.
ATV safety tips:
- While purchasing an ATV, it is ideal to look at the options for the different sorts of ATVs and other farm utility vehicles that are now on the market.
- It is ideal to choose something that suits ones particular needs.
- The guide encourages all users to wear a helmet, follow the makers’ operating and maintenance instructions and not carry passengers, especially children.
- Above-all it is good to treat ATV with respect, understand the terrain on which it is to be operated and most importantly, customer’s own limitations, particularly if the customer is getting older.