Quad message starting to get through

One confirmed and three unconfirmed quad crash deaths have occurred this year.

But national programmes manager Francois Barton says Worksafe is seeing some positive signs about quad use by farmers: they seem to be realising the value of quads and the need to ride them carefully.

“We have seen evidence that the sale and use of helmets has gone up. We are seeing strong engagement… with our recent ‘quad safety action group’,” he told Rural News. “You’re seeing on Country Calendar that helmets are being worn.” 

The quad issue is not easy to fix, Barton says. It will need time and a wider culture change in farming. Understanding the capabilities and limitations of quads is critical, so is training people to use them properly.

“I wouldn’t expect a farmer to throw the keys of a $300,000 tractor to a worker without asking ‘are you competent about what you are doing?’ The same applies to a quad. There is a responsibility to make sure the people jumping on these things know what they’re doing.” 

Meanwhile, the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) says workers in agriculture, forestry and fishing are over-represented in the latest work injury claims to ACC. CTU head Helen Kelly says about a quarter of all workers in these sectors had an injury claim accepted by ACC.

“There is something seriously and systemically wrong when a quarter of the workers in any particular sector are injured at work. There seems to be an acceptance that there are some sectors where a certain number of injuries, or even fatalities, are expected. This is an unacceptable perspective. Every worker should be able to return home from work safely,” Kelly says.