Rural workplaces can now apply for a NSW Government rebate of up to $500 to implement safety measures aimed at reducing quad bike tragedies and injuries on farms.
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The announcement was made at the NSW Farmers Conference in Sydney. Quad bikes are currently a leading cause of death on Australian properties with 220 deaths in the past 16 years and thousands more people seriously injured.
The 2016/17 NSW Budget included a $2 million Quad Bike Safety Improvement Program to encourage and support land managers to adopt a range of harm prevention strategies to protect their workers, family members and themselves.
The $500 rebate can go towards the purchase of compliant helmets, Operator Protector Devices including rollover bars, the purchase of a safer vehicle such as a side-by-side vehicle and training courses tailored to farmers.
Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello called it the nation’s most comprehensive program of its kind.
“Quad bike related injuries and fatalities are at an unacceptable level. Every death is one too many and has devastating effects on families and communities,” he said.
“We know there are around 200,000 quad bikes in operation across Australia in both a commercial and recreational capacity and this program is a step forward to reducing injuries and saving lives.”
Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair said a new alliance between SafeWork NSW and Local Land Services would promote the safer use of quad bikes in rural workplaces.
“Local Land Services is on the ground working hand-in-hand with landholders and they are best placed to help deliver strong safety messages to stop the tragedies when it comes to the use of quad bikes on the land,” he said.
Tocal College has also been awarded the contract to deliver 100 quad bike-training courses across NSW as part of the SafeWork NSW Quad Bike Safety Improvement Program.
The rebate will be available until 30 June 2017 (or funds expended). Further information is available at www.safework.nsw.gov.au.