HSENI - Quad Bike Safety Focus at Balmoral Show

At least 12 people have lost their lives in quad bike accidents in Northern Ireland over the last 10 years according to the latest statistics from HSENI. As part of this year’s Balmoral Show, DAERA, HSENI and the Farm Safety Partnership are featuring a hard-hitting visual display showing an overturned quad bike and casualty scene to demonstrate how easily these incidents can become fatal.

Commenting on the farm safety display, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: “I am pleased that visitors to this year’s Balmoral Show will have the opportunity to find out more about the safe use of quads on farm. There are too many preventable deaths occurring on our farms and I encourage all farmers attending the Balmoral Show to take some time to visit the Government Departments pavilion in the Eikon Centre. The hard-hitting display will encourage visitors to stop and think about the risks involved when using their quad on the farm and if this helps to save a life, it will be time well spent.”

Deputy Chief Executive of HSENI, Bryan Monson pleaded with farmers and rural families to take quad bike safety seriously, particularly to prevent workplace accidents: “Quad bikes and all‑terrain vehicles (ATVs) are very versatile vehicles and are commonly used on farms in Northern Ireland to help with a range of everyday tasks including travelling quickly across fields or checking on livestock. But they remain one of the most dangerous vehicles in agricultural workplaces. On challenging terrain or when used at speed quad bikes can overturn rapidly, often resulting in tragic outcomes.

“Sadly, at least 12 people have lost their lives in incidents involving ATVs over the past decade on our farms. This figure does not include deaths linked to road accidents or leisure use, so the overall number of fatalities is likely to be significantly higher,” Bryan added.

“Most fatal quad bike incidents involve rollovers, often on uneven ground where drivers can quickly lose control or become trapped beneath the vehicle. Our investigations also show that other common risk factors include speed, failure to wear a helmet, carrying passengers on these single-person vehicles, and the inappropriate use of quads by children.

“So, we are using this year’s Balmoral Show to place a spotlight on the risks as well as giving people the opportunity to speak directly to our inspectors about the practical steps they can take to reduce the risks. We want to make sure farmers leave with the knowledge they need to protect themselves, their workers and their families,” he added.

Risk Factors

The main causes of serious or fatal injury associated with quad bikes are:

• being thrown off during vehicle overturns or after loss of control;
• collisions with structures, for example trees or other vehicles;
• being trapped/asphyxiated under an overturned machine, and
• pedestrians being struck or run over by quad bikes.

Other risk factors include:

• lack of formal operator training and/or experience;
• incorrect/lack of appropriate head protection;
• excessive speed;
• age of the operator;
• carrying a passenger;
• unbalanced loads or overloading;
• tipping on a bank, ditch, rut or bump, and
• poor maintenance of the vehicle.

Safety Measures

Essential safety measures that SHOULD ALWAYS be followed when using quad bikes:

• Wear a helmet;
• Get proper training;
• Adjust your speed according to the current conditions
• Use the right vehicle for the job;
• Match the machine to the rider and ensure adult-sized quads are never operated by children;
• Take care on slopes and rough terrain – never exceed the capabilities of the bike, and
• Don’t do tasks that interfere with safe riding - keep both hands on the bike.

Find more information on the HSENI website Quad bike safety | Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, controlling risk together .