Farmers' boon does not come without serious risks

The use of quad bikes has aided farmers but safety rules are too often ignored

THE vast majority of livestock farmers reckon that two of the greatest advances over the last 25 years have been the introduction of large round balers and quad bikes, also known as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), which are essentially motorbikes with a four-wheel drive capability.

They are particularly useful for sheep farmers during the lambing season, but their use comes with major risks, according to Cheryl Anthony, principal inspector of agriculture with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

She said: "Quad bikes are now an essential part of farm life, especially on upland units. However, during lambing when farmers and shepherds are regularly out in the fields keeping an eye on their flocks, the temptation can be there to just hop on the bike without stopping to take time to put on a safety helmet.

"Fitting a helmet before driving off takes only a moment, and could save a life or keep someone out of a wheelchair. It is, of course, illegal not to wear a safety helmet when using a quad bike and employers must provide one for their employees."

The statistics do not make for pleasant reading: over a ten-year period between 1996 and 2006, 23 people died at work in the UK on quad bikes and 17 of those involved injuries where the victim was wearing no head protection.

Anthony added: "Everyone who uses a quad bike at work should have proper training in the safe handling of the vehicle by attending a suitable course. The HSE legislation does not cover leisure use, but the risks are just the same.

"If it were my family I would want them to be trained. High-profile casualties such as Ozzy Ozbourne and Rik Mayall illustrate the dangers – an acceptable helmet can be bought for little more than £30, which must be cheap at the price."

A recent case in Scotland should serve as a salutary reminder of the need for caution. A five-year-old child was crushed by an ATV against a gatepost. Her mother was tending a horse in a field, accompanied by her two children. She entered the field with her youngest child, leaving the ATV running. It appears that the younger child may have accidentally operated the accelerator, precipitating the fatal accident.