Lap-belts increase risk on quad bikes, says department

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The Department of Labour is unlikely to push for lap-belts or restraints on quad bikes, despite a coroner calling for them to become compulsory.

Coroner Ian Smith this week called for lap-belts, roll bars and helmets to be compulsory on quad bikes when he released findings from the inquest into 21-year-old Jody Santos' death.

Mr Santos was catapulted off his quad bike in August 2008 and died from his injuries three days later.

Department of Labour national support manager Mike Munnelly agreed with the coroner that riders and their employers must take notice of the dangers involved and put protective measures in place.

"This is the focus of the department's quad bike safety campaign which began in November last year. The campaign directly addresses the coroner's call for mandatory helmets."

But Mr Munnelly said the department differed on the issue of lap-belts as users needed to be able to stand up and shift body weight to ride safely.

"A lap-belt or restraining system makes it extremely difficult for a rider to make these safety corrections and exposes them to increased danger."

The coroner's call for roll bars was also unlikely to be implemented any time soon.

"The science supporting roll-over protection bars being fitted to quad bikes is far from complete. If the science does prove the value of these bars then the department will support their introduction."

Mr Munnelly said the department was liaising with manufacturers of quad bikes and roll bars on this issue and was also participating in a transtasman working group examining quad bike design.

Mr Munnelly said all quad bike riders and their employers should ensure users were properly trained to use the vehicles.

In the case of Mr Santos, the Department of Labour prosecuted his employer, P.A. & S.C. Steens, for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure Mr Santos' safety.

The company was fined $78,000 and ordered to pay reparations of $60,000.

SAFETY STEPS

*The Department of Labour's safety campaign focuses on four key steps to prevent quad bike accidents on farms:
*Riders must be trained and experienced enough to do the job.
*Don't let kids ride adult quad bikes.
*Always wear a helmet.
*Choose the right vehicle for the job.