Farmers will now receive free quad bike training in a major boost to the safety improvement program aimed at significantly reducing the number of deaths on rural properties across NSW.
Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Matt Kean said farmers who complete an approved training course would also receive a free helmet – worth around $120 - suitable for use while they are riding their quad bikes. The changes represent a further saving to farmers of up to $230.
From May 8, free training will also be available through authorised Registered Training Organisations.
SafeWork NSW has partnered with Tocal College to deliver up to 100 training events in regional and remote areas across NSW.
Previously, farmers attending an approved training course (costing up to $510) received a rebate of $310.
Mr Kean said more than 200 farmers had attended Tocal College training days since the $2 million quad bike safety program was launched last year.
“There’ve been 113 deaths from quad bike accidents across Australia since 2011, with 32 incidents just in NSW. Each fatality was someone’s loved one, and has a devastating impact on families and communities,” Mr Kean said.
“I am completely committed to reducing the number of deaths and injuries from the use of quad bikes in the workplace, and that’s why I want more farmers to undertake this training so they can be as safe as possible on their properties.
“We know time is money to farmers and it’s not easy for them to give up a day’s work to undergo quad bike training,” Mr Kean said.
“We can’t put more hours in the day but we can make the training free, and encourage farmers to use helmets, as the next step in our ongoing campaign to increase overall farm safety.”
NSW Primary Industries Minister, Niall Blair, said improved rider education is critical to reducing the number of quad bike accidents.
“I encourage all farmers and their employees to take advantage of free quad bike safety training. There have been too many deaths on farms by people of all ages and levels of experience to ignore it,” Mr Blair said.
“I urge all farmers to integrate quad bike training into their employee induction process and treat quad bikes like any other tool of trade."
In March this year the government doubled the rebates available under the scheme for farmers who want to buy a safer side-by-side farm vehicle, retrofit safety equipment to existing quad bikes, and/or buy an approved helmet.
NSW Farmers administer rebates under the quad bike program, and members of the community can visit SafeWork.nsw.gov.au for further information.
