The leading opponent of Crush Protection Devices on quad bikes, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, is holding fast following Worksafe Victoria’s move to mandate use of the devices earlier this year.
The group says it is confident NSW and Queensland will not be following Victoria’s lead.
Representing leading quad bike manufacturers, the FCAI admitted it was blindsided by the Victorian decision but says it is confident its message of training, helmets and choosing the right quad for the job is being heard in other states.
A spokesperson for NSW Safework said consultation on a quad bike safety strategy was ongoing with detail due for release in about July.
“You can publish quite confidently, that at this point in time, that NSW has no plans to legislate roll over protection.”
The NSW consultation wraps in the next few weeks and included input from the FCAI, the public, Farmsafe Australia, the NSW Farmer’s Association and other Work Safe jurisdictions including Victoria.
The FCAI says the devices injury prevention benefit runs neck and neck with the further injury they can cause in an accident.
“We’ve been asking WorkSafe for the evidence or the reliable data that they’ve used to make this decision but we're not hearing anything back,” FCAI ATV manager, Mark Collins said.
“If they've got something they are not sharing it.”
Mr Collins said at a meeting a couple of weeks before the 1 March announcement, WorkSafe Victoria indicated they would recognise CPDs as a safety device, but “they definitely said they weren't going to be mandated”.
“When I tried to turn the conversation to tell them what I know about CPDs, how effective or ineffective they might be, that was the end of the conversation.
“They pretty much didn't want to hear anything different to what their mind was made up on.”
He said the FCAI had not had much prior involvement with WorkSafe Victoria, but that “we’re much more involved with Queensland and NSW.
“We are on committees and we are working with them on what we call known safety practices, such as helmets.
“We are a little bit surprised and disappointed [WorkSafe] came out with this recommendation.”
Mr Collins said NSW and Queensland coronial inquests did not find that CPDs were a viable safety device.
“They said more testing and more research was required before anyone could make a call.”
He said he had no expectation Queensland and NSW would change their position on CPDs.
The mood on the ground says otherwise according to CPD manufacturers - the Quadbar and the New Zealand made Lifeguard.
Both said business had boomed since Victoria’s announcement.
Lifeguard’s Matthew Tiplady said “nobody, even with the Quadbar, has been seriously injured, killed or maimed on a quad bike with crush protection fitted to it.”
He said he had provided FCAI with a Lifeguard and believes it was sent to the US.
“They’ve never released any testing results if it has been tested.”
Dave Robertson of Quadbar said sales have been good “after Victoria recognised them as a legitimate risk control measure.
“There was quite significant enquiry after that,” he said.
“It’s taken them a number of years to research and see all the data and make a decision and they don't make them lightly.
“We do see a distinct group of farmers who like the idea and want the protection and you also get the corporations and businesses who are really looking at their litigation requirements rather than whether they like a product or not
“Compared to the cost of the bike itself it is a small outlay.”