Two separate fatalities involving side-by-side vehicles
WARNING: MAY CONTAIN DISTRESSING CONTENT TO SOME READERS
A worker was fatally injured when the side-by-side vehicle he was using on a rural property overturned and crushed him.
In a separate incident, workers were engaged in cattle mustering using a side-by-side vehicle as well as other mobile plant. A steer broke free of the herd and a worker attempted to round it up using the side-by-side vehicle. Whilst doing this the vehicle has tipped and come to rest on its left side trapping the worker and causing fatal injuries.
These findings are not yet confirmed, and investigations are continuing into the exact cause.
Safety issues
Side-by-side vehicles have become a highly utilised item of machinery in recent years, due to their adaptability, low running cost and easy operation. They are widely used across a range of industries and workplaces. Side-by-side vehicles can accommodate two to six people in a side-by-side bucket or bench seating arrangement, have seat belts and roll over protection structure (ROPS). A side-by-side vehicle (SSV) is different to a quad bike. It is typically a sit-in vehicle, has a steering wheel, seat belts, rollover protection and a higher load capacity. (Source: SafeWork NSW).
Operating side-by-side vehicles can pose a number of risks to drivers and passengers. When a side-by-side vehicle overturns, there is potential to be killed if thrown from or crushed by the vehicle. People can also be buffeted inside the cabin or hit by loose objects and receive serious or even fatal injuries. (Source: Worksafe Victoria)
Ways to manage health and safety
Effective risk management starts with a commitment to health and safety from those who manage the business. If an incident occurs, you'll need to show the regulator that you’ve used an effective risk management process. This responsibility is covered by your primary duty of care in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
Use the hierarchy of controls to help decide how to eliminate and reduce risks in your place of work. The hierarchy of controls ranks types of control methods from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest. It’s a step-by-step approach to eliminating or reducing risks. You must work through the hierarchy of controls when managing risks, with the aim of eliminating the hazard, which is the most effective control.
Possible control measures to prevent similar incidents
Work health and safety (WHS) legislation imposes duties on designers, manufacturers, importers, and suppliers to ensure plant such as side-by-side vehicles are, so far as is reasonably practicable, without risk to health and safety.
Queensland work health and safety laws require duty holders manage risks associated with a side-by-side vehicle overturning, objects falling on the operator, the operator being ejected from the vehicle and the vehicle colliding with people or anything else. Duty holders must also ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of workers and others so far as is reasonably practicable. This includes ensuring plant, such as side-by-side vehicles, are safe to use for the situation and skill of the rider.
Effective control measures for side-by-side vehicles are often made up of a combination of controls. Some common risk control measures can include but are not limited to the following:
- consider using another item of machinery that could provide a safer operation, for example a utility
- install door nets in side-by-side vehicles to help keep body parts within the rollover zone
- use physical barriers such as safety barriers to separate vehicles and stored materials (Source: Worksafe Victoria)
- regular maintenance and inspection of the side-by-side vehicle by a competent person, according to the manufacturer’s specifications
- regular inspection of tyre pressure
- providing operators with appropriate information, training, and instruction to ensure the side-by-side vehicle is operated safely and competently according to the manufacturer’s instructions
- develop a safe system of work that considers:
- layout of the workplace
- choosing the safest route – be aware of obstacles
- never overloading a side-by-side vehicle or trailer – ensure manufacturing specifications on load limits are followed
- when carrying loads, balance and strap the load down in accordance with manufacturing specifications
- the nature of the task
- environmental conditions such as, weather, ground conditions and terrain. You may need to reassess these conditions daily, or even hourly, depending on the weather and drying times of the ground.
- ensuring all occupants wear a seatbelt while the side-by-side vehicle is operating (remembering to put it back on each time they get back into the vehicle)
- a well-fitted, appropriate helmet
- eye protection, gloves, sturdy footwear and clothing covering arms and legs.
The control measures you put in place should be regularly reviewed to make sure they are effective. If the control measure is not working effectively, it must be revised to ensure it is effective in controlling the risk.
More Information
- How to manage work health and safety risks Code of Practice 2021 (PDF, 0.65 MB)
- Managing the risks of plant in the workplace Code of Practice 2021 (PDF, 1.57 MB)
- Helmets for quad bikes and side-by side vehicles (PDF, 0.4 MB)
- Side-by-side vehicle safety – Worksafe Victoria
- Side-by-side vehicles fact sheet – SafeWork NSW
Have you been affected by a workplace fatality, illness or serious injury?
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If this information has caused distress there are services to help:
- Lifeline – 24/7 crisis support service, including phone, texting and chat services.
- Beyond Blue – information and support for anxiety, depression and suicide prevention for everyone in Australia.
- Black Dog Institute – research and resources on mental health in the workplace.
- SANE – helpline service, as well as resources on mental health.