FBD Insurance, with the support of the HSA and Teagasc, launched a new Safe Quad Skills and Operation DVD at Ballyhaise Agricultural College this week. The aim of the DVD is to demonstrate the safe operation of a quad bike in a farming environment.

It is hoped that the DVD will be shown to all agricultural college students and farmers who use quads and in turn that this will create awareness of the hazards and risks associated with their use and a reduction in serious quad accidents.

The DVD has been launched because of the relatively high numbers of fatal and serious work related accidents involving quads, in particular in agriculture and forestry. The DVD will be used as a component of the Teagasc health and safety programme, particularly in association with training to reinforce key safety control measures with using these machines. The DVD will also be available on YouTube for viewing by the farming public.

Ciaran Roche, FBD risk manager, said: “The most important safety issues with sit astride quads are training, experience, wearing personal protective equipment, maintenance and a good knowledge of the terrain.

“More than half of all quad riders have been thrown off at some time,” said Ciaran. “There is no cab or roll bar, so your only protection is what you wear. Head protection is essential as a significant percentage of serious injuries with quads involve head injuries,” he said.

Professor Gerry Boyle, Teagasc director, noted that the DVD was produced in a commercial farm setting which also demonstrates the practical benefits of a quad bike, when used in a controlled manner by skilled operators.