The upcoming NSW Budget will include a $2 million package to reduce quad bike tragedies and injuries on farms. Source: AFDJ eNews
Quad bikes are a leading cause of death on Australian properties with 220 deaths in the past 16 years with thousands more people seriously injured.
SafeWork NSW has developed a Quad Bike Safety Improvement Program, due to commence in late July that will include a $2 million dollar rebate package to encourage and support farmers to adopt a range of harm prevention strategies to protect their workers, family members and themselves.
New South Wales Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello called it the nation’s most comprehensive program of its kind.
The NSW Government will be offering rebates of up to $500 towards the purchase of compliant helmets, Operator Protective Devices, the purchase of a safer vehicle, such as a side-by-side vehicle, and undertaking training courses tailored to farmers.
“Quad bike related injuries and fatalities are at an unacceptable level. Every death is one too many and has devastating effects on families and communities,” Mr Dominello said.
“What we are doing is balancing the regulatory burden on farmers with raising the bar on safety by improving awareness and providing practical assistance.
“We know there are around 200,000 quad bikes in operation across Australia in both a commercial and recreational capacity, and this program is a step forward to reducing injuries and saving lives.”
Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian said: “We hope this rebate will go a long way in reducing quad bike related injuries and deaths by introducing safer practices.”
In 2013, SafeWork NSW funded a $1.3 million world-first testing and research project into quad bike safety, and its recommendations were considered as part of New South Wales and Queensland Coronial Inquiries into quad bike deaths last year.
Recommendations from the research along with the coronial findings as well as industry feedback were considered in the development of this program.
Information on the program is available at www.safework.nsw.gov.au
