Preventingdeathandseriousinjurycausedby rolloverofquadbikesonAustralianfarms PolicyPaper

TonyLower,JohnTemperley,LynFragar 14December2010 Aim: Thispolicypaperaimstoprovidefarmers,farmmanagersandfarmworkerswithpractical informationtoassessrisksassociatedwithquadbikerolloversandtoputinplaceeffectivecontrol measurestoreducetheriskofdeathandseriousinjury.Thispapershouldbereadinconjunction withtheupdateoftheAustralianCentreforAgriculturalHealthandSafetypublicationSafetyof quadbikesandsidebysidevehiclesonAustralianfarmsApracticalmanagementguide.1 Thenatureoftherisk: QuadbikesareacommonlyusedandimportantvehicleonAustralianfarmsandfallunderthe categoryofplantwithintheexistingandproposedOccupationalHealthandSafetyRegulations.24 Intheperiod2001to2009quadbikeshaveresultedin127deathsacrossAustraliaanaverageof 14peryear.5 QuadbikesarethesecondleadingagentofinjurydeathonAustralianfarms,rankingonlybehind tractors.6Ofthesefatalities,47%involvedthequadbikerollingoverandcrushingthevictim.Farms werethemostcommonlocationforrolloverdeaths,with90%ofallrollovercasesoccurringon farms.Intotal,rolloverswereresponsiblefor59%ofonfarmand18%ofnonfarmdeaths.5 In addition to the physical, social and emotional impacts related to quad bike deaths and serious injuries, there are significant economic implications, with the average cost of a quad bike fatality beingestimatedas$1.5Million(in2008dollars).7 Rolloverdeathswerecausedbycrushinjuryandwereprimarilyassociatedwithasphyxiationor respiratorydifficulty(n=14),headinjury(n=11),chest(n=6)andspinalinjuries(n=4).This compareswithinjuriesfromnonrolloverswheremultipleinjuries(n=17),head(n=10)andbrain injuries(n=4)weremostcommon.8 Thesefindingsclearlyindicatethatquadbikesposeasignificantriskofrolloverandthatstepsmust betakentoreducethepotentialfordeathandseriousinjuryintheeventofarollover. Regulatoryrequirements: Allequipmentdesignersandworkplacesarerequiredbylawtoundertakeariskassessmentandto reducetheriskofinjuryfromplant.3,4Thisshouldincludetheriskfromquadbikerollovers. Specific efforts to reduce deaths and serious injury from quad bikes should follow the range of actionsbasedonthehierarchyofriskcontrolandidentifiedinthedocumentSafetyofquadbikes andsidebysidevehiclesonAustralianfarmsApracticalmanagementguide.1

MOSTPREFERREDHierarchyofControlMeasures Eliminationmaynotalwaysbepossiblebutstartwiththis Substitutionuseamorestablemachinee.g.uteorsidebysidevehicle EngineeringControlsrolloverprotectivedevice AdministrativeControlstraining,induction,ridersupervision LEASTPREFERREDPersonalProtectiveEquipmenthelmet Controloptions: The focus of manufacturers to date has been on promoting the lower order, or least effective controls: Rider training known not to be an effective risk control intervention without higher order controls,asquadbikesarepronetorollover. Being a safety conscious individual and rider offers little protection against quad bike rollovers.2 Use of personal protective equipment in particular, wearing of a suitable helmet that would providesomeprotectionoftheheadandneckintheeventofarolloverorquadbikecrash. In contrast, the two higher level control options that farmers, farm managers and farm workers shouldputinplacetoreducetheriskofdeathandseriousinjurycausedbyquadbikerolloverare: 1. Selectionofasafervehicleormachinefortheplannedfarmwork 2. And,ifaquadbikeistobeused,fittingatestedrolloverprotectivedevice. a. Selectionofthesafestmachineforthejob Wherepossibleselectamachinethathasalowriskofrollover.Considerthemachinesthatcanbe fittedwithasuitableoperatorprotectivedevice,includingrolloverprotectivestructureandoperator restraint.ManyjobsonAustralianfarmscanbeundertakenusingalternativesmallvehiclestoquad bikes(e.g.farmutesandsidebysidevehicles). b. Fittingatestedrolloverprotectivedevice Manyfarmersandotherorganisationshavemovedawayfromusingquadbikesbecausetheriskof rolloverhasbeenseentobetoohigh.Othersincludingagriculturaltraininginstitutions,havelooked attheissuesandfittedsuitablytestedprotectivedevicestoreducerisksintheeventofarollover. Manufacturersupported research has consistently claimed that protective devices to reduce the risksfromrolloversarenotpracticalorfeasible.Further,theyhaveclaimedthatanybenefitinfitting adevicewasnotstatisticallysignificantifarolloveroccurs.912
AustralianCentreforAgriculturalHealthandSafety Page2

However, the emerging evidence regarding the legitimacy of modeling assumptions and scenarios used in this manufacturersupported research, has recently been called into serious question by independentresearchersinthefieldofmechanicalandforensicengineering.13,14 Thebodyofevidencesupportingthepotentialforsomeformofrolloverprotectivedeviceforquad bikesisalsogrowing.1517 Whilethe physicalnature oftractorsandquadbikesissignificantlydifferent, workundertakenon tractorrolloverprotectionstructureshighlightsthebenefitsofthesedevicesinreducingfatalities.18 Evenwhereseatbeltswerenotpresentorused,nooronlyminorinjurieswerereportedin71%of cases.19 Resultsevenapproachingtheselevelsforquadbikes,wouldleadtosignificantreductionsin deathandseriousinjury. Quadbikerolloverprotectivedevicesthathavebeentestedtoexaminetheirpotentialeffectiveness inreducingdeathsandseriousinjuryintheeventofarolloverareavailabletoAustralianfarmers (Attachment1). Benefitsfromfittingasuitablytestedprotectivedevice,havebeenestimatedtopotentiallyreduce quadbikerolloverdeathsbyupto30%.20

Although further ongoing research is required, based on the most recent evidence and using precautionary principles, there is an exceptionally strong case to recommend the adoption of suitablytestedprotectivedevicestominimizetheriskofdeathandseriousinjuryfromrolloversof quadbikes.

Farmersandotherownersofquadbikesshouldbe encouragedtofitsuitablytestedprotectivedevicesto reducedeathandseriousinjuryfromrollovers.

TheAustralianCentreforAgriculturalHealthandSafety: Throughitsownactivitiesandinpartnershipwithitsnetworkofstakeholders,theCentrewill: Continuetopromotetheadoptionofthetwohigherordercontrols(1)selectionofthesafest machineforthejob,and(2)fittingasuitablytestedrolloverprotectiondevice.Thesewillbe supplementedbythelowerordercontrolssuchasuseofrelevantpersonalprotective equipmentincludinghelmetsandridertraining.Thisapproachisoutlinedinmoredetailinthe SafetyofquadbikesandsidebysidevehiclesonAustralianfarmsApracticalmanagement guide1 Activelyworkwithfarmernetworkstoadvocateforfittingsuitablytestedprotectivedevicesfor quadbikes. Advocateforthefittingofsuitablytestedprotectivedevicesasastandardcomponentofallnew quadbikesalesinAustralia. WorkwithstatesWorkHealthAuthoritiestopromotethefittingofsuitablytestedprotective devicesandtoendorsetheintroductionoffinancialincentivesforretrofittingbyfarmers. Maintainafocusonfurtherdevelopingtheevidenceonfatalitiesandseriousinjuriesthrough theNationalFarmInjuryDataCentreandmonitoringchangesinfatalityandmorbiditypatterns. Encouragefurtherdefinitiveassessmentsofrolloverprotectivedevicesforquadbikestolimit deathsandseriousinjuryintheeventofarollover. ContinueparticipationintheTransTasmanQuadsBikeWorkingGroup.
AustralianCentreforAgriculturalHealthandSafety Page3

References 1. AustralianCentreforAgriculturalHealthandSafety.2009.Safetyofquadbikesandsmall utilityvehiclesonAustralianfarmsApracticalmanagementguide.ACAHS.Moree,NSW. 2. StateCoronerVictoria.InvestigationintodeathsofVinceTobin,JosephJarvisShepherd,Jye KadenJones,PeterVaughnCrole,ThomasJamesScutchings,JohnNevilleNash,Patricia MurraySimpson,ElijahSimpsonwithinquest.StateCoronerVictoria.Melbourne:2009. 3. NationalOccupationalHealthandSafetyCommission.1994.Nationalstandardforplant [(NOHSC:1010(1994)].CommonwealthofAustralia.Canberra,ACT. 4. CommonwealthofAustralia.ModelWorkHealthandSafetyBillRevisedDraft26/11/2010 http://safeworkaustralia.gov.au/AboutSafeWorkAustralia/WhatWeDo/Publications/Pages/ ModelWorkHealthandSafetyAct26.11.10.aspx.(AccessedDec10,2010). 5. Fragar L, Herde E. 2010. Quad Bike Deaths in Australia 20012009 Mechanisms of Injury deaths on and off Australian farms. Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety. Moree,NSW. 6. HerdeE,LowerT.FarminjuryrelatedfatalitiesinAustralia20032006.2011.Australian CentreforAgriculturalHealthandSafety.Moree,NSW.(Availableatwww.aghealth.org.au) 7. Pollock, K. 2010. The economic cost of farmrelated fatalities and the perceptions and managementofhealthandsafetyonAustralianfarms.PhDthesis,UniversityofSydney. 8. Lower T, Fragar L, Herde E. 2010. Quad bike rollover deaths in Australia (200109) Brief report prepared for the TransTasman Quad Bike (Engineering) Group October 56, 2010. AustralianCentreforAgriculturalHealthandSafety.Moree,NSW. 9. VanAukenR,ZellnerJ.ATVROPStestsandsimulations.DRITR982,DynamicResearchInc, 1998. 10. MunozS,VanAukenR,ZellnerJ.AnassessmentoftheeffectsoftheRoberstonVbarROPS ontheriskofriderinjuryduetooverturnsresultingfromATVmisuse.DRITR0714, DynamicResearchInc,2007. 11. FederalChamberofAutomotiveIndustries.2010.AustralianATVdistributorspositionpaper January2010.FCAI,Melbourne. 12. ZellnerJ.SummaryofATVROPSresearchDynamicResearchIn,California.7thNational FarmHealthandSafetyConference,Perth.October1315,2009. 13. McDonaldG.Critiqueofquadbikerolloversimulationandevaluationofprotective structuresbyDynamicResearch,Inc.November2010. 14. LambertJ.QuadbikecomputersimulationReportreviewofworkbyDRI2nddraft. November2010. 15. RechnitzerG,DayL,GrzebietaR,ZouR,RichardsonS.2003.AllTerrainVehicleinjuriesand deaths.MonashUniversityAccidentResearchCentre.Melbourne,VIC. 16. ThompsonJ.McDonaldR,MacbethA.2009.AllTerrainVehicle(ATV)stabilitytesting. InsuranceAustraliaGroupResearchCentre.Sydney,NSW. 17. SnookC.2009.Anassessmentofpassiverolloverprotectionforquadbikes.Facultyof EngineeringandSurveyingTechnicalReport,UniversityofSouthernQueensland. 18. RautiainenR,LehtolaM,DayL,SchonsteinE,SuutarinenJ,SalminenS,etal.Interventions forpreventinginjuriesintheagriculturalindustry.CochraneDatabaseofSystematicReviews 2008,Issue1.Art.No.:CD006398.DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD006398.pub2 19. MyersM,ColeH,WestneatS.Seatbeltuseduringtractoroverturns.JournalofAgricultural SafetyandHealth2006;12(1):439. 20. LowerT,FragarL.HerdeE.PrioritiesforpreventionoffarminjuryfatalitiesinAustralia (underreview).
AustralianCentreforAgriculturalHealthandSafety Page4

 Attachment1 Australiandevicestestedandillustratingpotentialforrolloverprotection 1. QuadBar ContactDetails: Ph: (07)46123100 Email: info@quadbar.com.au Website: http://www.quadbar.com.au/

AustralianCentreforAgriculturalHealthandSafety

Page5