Off-road safety in focus at forum

DEATHS and serious accidents involving off-road vehicles on the farm are unfortunately an all-too-common occurrence in regional Queensland.

In a bid to address the issue of farm safety, Queensland Beef Expo and the Australian Offroad Academy have teamed up and are running a National Safety Forum today and tomorrow at the Toowoomba Showgrounds.

The forum educates farmers on what the risks are, what the legislation requires of them, and what they should be doing to make their farms an injury-free place.

Farmers are also informed of what practices they need to have in place on their farm to reduce the likelihood of being sued over an off-road accident.

Australian Offroad Academy’s Dave Darmody said lots of farms already had an on-farm training program that was auditable and effective, but that lots of people came to his company to put safeguards in place.

“We’re not trying to scare people,” he said.

“But if they haven’t built a procedure around it, then they’re very much at risk.”

Tying into the National Safety Forum was the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries announcement yesterday that a free Shark helmet would be provided alongside every utility ATV sold during the September.

Member for Groom Dr John McVeigh launched the free helmet offer.

“The research tells us that 30 per cent of fatally injured riders would have survived if they had been wearing a helmet. So by the industry providing a free helmet that is lighter in weight, cooler and more comfortable to wear, then hopefully more people will wear them and lives will be saved,” he said.