Table Of ContentA PRACTICAL GUIDE
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© State of New South Wales through Department of Primary Industries, 2017
This publication is copyright. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth), no part of the publication may be reproduced by any process,
electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of the copyright owner. Neither may information be stored electronically in any form whatever
without such permission.
In particular, the user of this publication agrees:
• not to reproduce any major extract or the entire publication without the prior written permission of the Crown in the right of the State of New South
Wales;
• to include this copyright notice in any copy made;
• to acknowledge the source of any selected passage, table or diagram reproduced; and
• not to charge for providing the publication to another person.
DISCLAIMER
This document has been prepared by the authors for Department of Primary Industries for and on behalf of the State of New South Wales, in good faith on the
basis of available information.
While the information contained in the document has been formulated with all due care, the users of the document must obtain their own advice and conduct
their own investigations and assessments of any proposals they are considering, in the light of their own individual circumstances.
The document is made available on the understanding that the State of New South Wales, the author and the publisher, their respective servants and agents
accept no responsibility for any person, acting on, or relying on, or upon any opinion, advice, representation, statement or information whether expressed or
implied in the document, and disclaim all liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred or arising by reason of any person using or relying on the
information contained in the document or by reason of any error, omission, defect or mis-statement (whether such error, omission, defect or mis-statement, is
caused by or arises from negligence, lack of care or otherwise).
While the information is considered true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the
accuracy of the information. The information may change without notice and the State of New South Wales, the author and the publisher and their respective
servants and agents are not in any way liable for the accuracy of any information contained in this document.
Recognising that some of the information is provided by third parties, the State of New South Wales, the author and the publisher take no responsibility for the
accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of any information included in the document provided by third parties.
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This publication was produced by Education Delivery, Tocal College, and is a revision of an earlier publication.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Tocal College gratefully acknowledges the advice, interest and support for this publication given by Professor Raphael Grzebieta
and Adjunct Associate Professor George Rechnitzer et al from the Transport and Road Safety (TARS) University of New South Wales
and WorkCover New South Wales.
It aligns with the following competency from AHC, The National Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management
Training Package: AHCMOM212 Operate quad bikes
Written by: Jennifer Laffan, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Tocal College, Paterson
Technical editor: Brian McKinnon, Farm Mechanisation Lecturer, Tocal College, Yanco Campus
Technical contributions: Matt Brett, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Tocal College, Paterson
Ian Nunan, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Tocal College, Paterson
Proofreader: Thelma Bogan
Graphic design: Dean Morris
Photographs: Jennifer Laffan unless otherwise acknowledged
Illustrations: Jessica Green
Printing: WHO Printing
All enquiries: Education Delivery
Tocal College
PATERSON NSW 2421 AUSTRALIA
Phone (02) 49 398888 or 1800 025 520
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.tocal.nsw.edu.au
ISBN for this book: 978-1-76058-230-2 (2018)
ISBN print edition: 978-1-74256-714-3 (2015)
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CONTENTS
GENERAL QUAD BIKE INFORMATION
CH 1 QUAD BIKES AND THEIR USE 1
................................................................................................................................................
QUAD BIKES AND THE ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................................................................................................1
CAN YOU USE A MORE SUITABLE MACHINE FOR THE JOB? ........................................................................................................................................3
QUAD BIKES AND SPRAY TANKS ..................................................................................................................................................................................5
CLEAN YOUR QUAD BIKE..............................................................................................................................................................................................6
CH 2 SAFETY 11
.............................................................................................................................................................................................
IMPORTANCE..............................................................................................................................................................................................................11
RISK CONTROL MEASURES ........................................................................................................................................................................................12
SAFETY RULES ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................12
SAFETY OF YOUNG PEOPLE .......................................................................................................................................................................................12
SAFETY OF OLDER OPERATORS..................................................................................................................................................................................13
ROLLOVER DANGER....................................................................................................................................................................................................13
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SKILLS FOR USING QUAD BIKES
CH 3 PERFORM A PRE-START SAFETY CHECK ON A QUAD BIKE 15
...............................................................................
CH 4 RIDE A QUAD BIKE 21
....................................................................................................................................................................
CH 5 RIDING ON SLOPES 31
...................................................................................................................................................................
CH 6 SAND, WATER AND MUD 37
.......................................................................................................................................................
CH 7 TOWING AND LOADING 41
.........................................................................................................................................................
CH 8 TRANSPORTING A QUAD BIKE 47
..........................................................................................................................................
CH 9 SERVICING THE QUAD BIKE 57
................................................................................................................................................
CH 10 WHAT IS A SAFE OPERATING PROCEDURE STATEMENT? 63
..................................................................................
CH 11 SAFE OPERATING PROCEDURE 65
.........................................................................................................................................
CH 12 CHECK YOUR SKILL 69
...................................................................................................................................................................
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Figure 1: Quad bikes are excellent tools if used safely and correctly.
Insets: Recommended Operator Protection Devices. Top: Lifeguard. Bottom: Quadbar.
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QUAD BIKES AND THEIR USE
Chapter 1
QUAD BIKES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
When compared to other vehicles, quad bikes have minimal impact on the environment. This advantage is due to their low weight
and high flotation tyres. However, you still need to exercise care by:
• keeping to areas and tracks where impact will be minimal
• cleaning your bike of weeds and seeds before moving to a new area
• seeking permission before operating the bike on other people’s private land.
Do not disturb livestock or watering points; leave gates as found.
TREAD LIGHTLY
What is a quad bike?
Quad bikes were once incorrectly termed all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). These vehicles are not suitable for all terrains and the
term now used in Australia is quad bike. The American National Standards Institute-Specialty Vehicle Institute of America
(ANSI-SVIA)-1-2007 Standard refers to these vehicles by the earlier name but the description still applies: “any motorised
vehicle designed to travel on four low pressure tyres with a seat designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for
steering. Intended use is for a single operator and no passenger.” This definition applies to the category Type 1 vehicle, which
is commonly used on farms in Australia.
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Operator protection devices
All photographs in this publication show quad bikes fitted NOTE: OPDs are likely to offer a net safety benefit in slow
with operator protection devices. While operator protection speed crashes typical of most farm use but they DO NOT
devices are not a legal requirement at the time of going to prevent a crash or rollover. In each of the photos below,
press, it is an internal policy of the NSW Department of the fitted OPD would allow the operator to get out from
Primary Industries (DPI) for operator protection devices under the quad bike.
to be fitted to quad bikes used in the DPI workplace and
for training purposes. The NSW DPI does not promote any
particular brand of operator protection device.
Photos courtesy of Transport and Road Safety Unit,
In the circumstances where quad bikes have been assessed University of New South Wales
as acceptable in the workplace, new quad bike purchases
should be fitted with OPDs before sale, noting they are
likely to offer a net safety benefit in slow speed crashes
typical of most farm use.
Use a side-by-side vehicle instead of a quad bike wherever
you can. Be sure that the side-by-side has seat belts.
Where existing quad bikes are still acceptable or cannot be
replaced, then OPDs can be retrofitted to existing on-farm
Lateral roll, no OPD.
quad bikes.
Forward roll, no OPD. Lateral roll, Lifeguard OPD.
Forward roll, Quadbar OPD. Lateral roll, Quadbar OPD.
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CAN YOU USE A MORE SUITABLE MACHINE FOR THE JOB?
Quad bikes are not suitable for all terrains and they are not
suitable for all tasks, but they are popular runabouts on farms
for jobs such as carrying small loads and towing, and because
they are so manoeuvrable they can be used in small spaces
and tight corners. Their excellent flotation makes quad bikes
better than other vehicles in conditions of sand and mud. But
quad bikes can be dangerous in the hands of inexperienced
or complacent operators. They are also dangerous if
manufacturer’s specifications are exceeded or attention is not
given to warnings.
Figure 2: The quad bike is used in a bike shift irrigation system. Below
Not all quad bikes are the same and not all operators are the Figure 2a: Side-by-side vehicles are better suited than a quad bike for
same size; some machines are more suited to certain tasks or carrying a passenger or towing or carrying heavy equipment. They
riders than others. are safer than quad bikes.
Operations that involve livestock need a very manoeuvrable
machine that can carry small loads and be safe and comfortable
in rough terrain.
In some situations quad bikes are not at all suitable. For
example, if you need to muster stock in hilly conditions, use a
two-wheeled motor bike or a horse.
Never use a quad bike for carrying a passenger (unless the bike
has an approved second seat).
Side-by-side vehicles are better suited to carrying passengers
or for towing or carrying heavier equipment. These are small
vehicles designed for off-road use and have tyres similar to
quad bike tyres. They often have a bench-type seat, seat belts,
steering wheel and rollover protection structure (ROPS) and
are designed to transport more than one person. They are also
equipped with four or more low pressure flotation tyres and
generally have a tray-back designed for carrying small loads.
Figure 3: Choose the best vehicle for the job.
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