ATV’s On The Farm Pose Risks

Many farms have at least one ATV. Some farms have several. These all terrain vehicles are used for many purposes on the farm: checking crops and livestock, herding livestock, checking irrigation systems, getting out to remote grain bins for bin inspections, carrying lunches and messages, getting out to machinery in the fields and for recreation.

"People of all ages ride them," says George Maher, an agricultural safety specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service. "And that’s where some of the most serious safety problems develop."

Since 1991, as many as 926 people were killed in ATV accidents in the United States, according to the ATV Safety Institute. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 40 percent of all ATV-related fatalities and injuries happen to adolescents and children. Seventy seven percent of farm youth questioned in a Nebraska ATV Safety project stated they never wore helmets when operating an ATV, and less than half of the people surveyed indicated they wore any eye protection at all.

"Those safety statistics are a cause for concern with ATVs in rural areas," Maher says

ATVs come in several sizes with many features. Sizes usually vary according to horsepower, and are intended for certain age groups. Machines with engines of 50 to 60 cubic centimeters are intended for ages 6 to 11, 70 to 90 cubic centimeters are intended for ages 12 to 15, and those with engines of 90 cubic centimeters or more are intended for ages 16 and older.

"An ATV with an engine of 90 cubic centimeters is simply too big for an average 10 year old to be operating," Maher says. "The weight of a typical 10 year old is not enough to ballast the machine safely, and the controls are too hard to reach and operate safely."

Passengers should never be allowed on an ATV, he adds. "The machine isn’t designed for more than one person to be on it. The operator needs room to move around on the ATV so the weight distribution can be properly adjusted while riding. The operator needs to be able to slide back on the seat when the ATV is going downhill, and to the left or right when making turns."

If there is a passenger to the rear of the operator and hanging on to the operator for security, the operator will not have the freedom to move around according to the maneuver being made, Maher notes.

Most operators of ATVs in agricultural settings do not wear protective clothing and gear. That protective gear is essential to protect the operator.

• A helmet is the most important safety equipment when riding an ATV because of the frequency of head injuries suffered in ATV accidents. Select a helmet designed for ATV use.
• Eye protection is also important because eyes are injured and damaged in many ATV accidents. Ordinary eyeglasses will not do the job. Select ATV riding goggles that protect from the side as well as the front.
• A long sleeved shirt or jacket and long pants will protect arms and legs when an ATV is tipped or rolled.
• Leather boots with ankle support are key safety equipment. Soft shoes and ordinary shoes present little to no protection for the feet.

"Where ATVs are driven can present other safety concerns," Maher notes. ATVs are designed and intended for off-road use and have too much traction to be used on paved surfaces, making them a tipping hazard. Steep hills are also a common accident scene. "Some hills are simply too steep to be driven up or down safely. And hills are where the operator really needs the freedom to move around to adjust the weight distribution safely and stay right side up. Remember, a passenger restricts this freedom of movement."

###

Source: George Maher, (701) 231-8288
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629