28/01/2008

News Item

Mudgee death sparks quad bike warning

WorkCover New South Wales has issued a warning to farmers and employers about the safe use of all-terrain vehicles.

The reminder follows the death of a 73-year-old Mudgee farmer, who was found under his quad bike last week.

The acting chief executive officer of WorkCover, John Watson, says initial investigations into the accident reveal the man was using the vehicle to spray weeds.

Mr Watson says it is vital farmers do not overload or incorrectly ride quad bikes.

"A quad bike is a very versatile piece of equipment and a useful piece of equipment around the farm, but often when we are investigating matters related to fatalities or serious injury involving quad bikes, we find the bike has been overloaded or indeed isn't begin ridden correctly, or in terrain which is too steep for the nature of the bike itself," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/28/2147748.htm