Call for action after Otago quad bike death

A coroner has called on the Government to do more to address the "unacceptably high number of quad bike deaths and serious injuries'' following the death of a Milton man in 2014.

Neville Ian Anderson died in September 2014 after being crushed by a quad bike which rolled while he was working on Cullen Farm, Clarendon, near Milton.

In her findings into the death, coroner Brigitte Windley issued a number of recommendations to improve quad bike safety and address a "persistent concern''.

Her finding into Mr Anderson's death echoed a series of findings issued by Deputy Chief Coroner Brandt Shortland in 2013, she said.

The use of attached implements or equipment, and the trapping of the rider under the bike are common features in these deaths.

"Despite the public attention quad bike deaths have received, and the ongoing work done by government agencies such as WorkSafe and ACC ... quad bike deaths were reported to have reached a record high in 2016,'' she said.

Ms Windley acknowledged Roll Over Protection (ROP) devices as a controversial issue in quad bike safety but identified compelling Australian research providing the first ever in-field evidence about their protective benefit.

"On the basis of this recent research it would seem timely for New Zealand agencies with a mandate to set, implement and enforce quad bike standard and safety to revisit the position of mandating ROP devices.''

Ms Windley detailed other government initiatives rolled out in Australia to incentivise the farming community towards safer quad bike use.

The development of a mandatory five star national quad bike safety rating in New South Wales had also been announced in recent weeks and was reported to have national support.

"It is imperative that we examine proposals that may improve quad bike safety and reduce quad bike trauma and death,'' she said.

While WorkSafe New Zealand has a lead role in workplace quad bike safety, she suggested a cross-agency working group convene and consider a whole-of-government approach to her recommendations.

Her recommendations are that agencies with a mandate to set, implement and enforce quad bike standards and safety consider whether:

  • The Quad Bike Workplace Safety Project findings provide a case for ROP devices to be mandated for all quad bikes.
  • A rebate or subsidy programme for rider training, purchase and fitting of ROP devices, and purchase of alternative vehicles should be introduced for farmers and their employees who use quad bikes in performing their farming activities.
  • A national five-star safety rating system for quad bikes should be introduced.