Quads and Motorbikes

Quad and Motorbike safety

Quad bikes are a leading cause of fatal injuries on Australian farms, with national data showing around 15 deaths each year across agriculture. Most of these incidents occur during farm work, including on livestock and dairy properties.

The main causes of death and severe injury are tipping and rollover, which can lead to crush injuries, asphyxia, and head or neck trauma. The workplace health and safety risk associated with quad bike use on farms is high.

As an employer or person conducting a business on the farm, you have a legal duty to ensure that anyone using quad bikes or motorbikes is kept safe.

Use the resources below to help you meet this requirement.

The Australian Government introduced a mandatory Quad Bike Safety Standard in 2019 under the Australian Consumer Law (Quad bikes mandatory standard | ACCC Product Safety).

All new and imported second-hand quad bikes sold in Australia must meet this standard.

Key points:

All quads must pass stability testing.
Each bike carries a rollover warning label and the manual includes safety advice.
Bikes must meet international design standards and have a compliant spark arrester.
From Oct 2021, all work quads must also have an Operator Protection Device and meet minimum stability levels.

Only use bikes that meet the standard and provide helmets and safer vehicle options wherever possible.

Resources

The Farm Safety Manual aims to make it straightforward for dairy farmers to build and improve a comprehensive farm safety system.

For guidance, policy and work procedure templates for your state, visit a page below:

State	Available Guidance / Templates on Quad Bikes	Link(s)
NSW	Safe-Use Toolkit for quad bikes & SSVs (free guide/toolkit)	Quad bike & SSV Safe Use Toolkit SafeWork NSW
VIC	Comprehensive handbook; “Reducing the risks” guidance; specific guidance on attachments, loads & towing; safety alert on OPDs	Quad bikes on farms: Handbook for workplaces; Quad bikes – Reducing the risks; Quad bikes: attachments, loads and towing; Quad bikes and Operator Protective Devices WorkSafe Victoria
QLD	Regulatory webpage with updated 2024 Regulations; guidance on hazards, responsibilities and quick checks	Quad bikes & side-by-side vehicles (QLD) WorkSafe Queensland
WA	Guide “Quad bikes in workplaces” (updated Jan 2025); posters; information sheet on SSV risk reduction	Quad bikes in workplaces: Quad bike safety poster; Reducing SSV risks info sheet WorkSafe WA
SA	Safety guidance on selecting and using quad bikes; general hazard management advice	Quad bikes guidance – SafeWork SA SafeWork SA
TAS	Safe Work Procedure (SWP) template; Safety guide/fact sheet; “Quad Bike and SSV Vehicle Safety” guide	SWP: Quad Bike (Word); Quad-Bike & SSV Safety guide (PDF Jan 2024); Quadsafe page includes hazards/risk control summary WorkSafe Tasmania