Farmers and others who use quads for work will be required to wear helmets and undergo specialist safety training from today.
It follows the new the new quad bike law under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Regulation 2021, which is the first of its kind in Europe.
It is being introduced by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
It is estimated there are between 15,000 and 20,000 quads being used across Ireland today with eleven people losing their lives on quads in Ireland in the past decade.
HSA Senior Inspector for Farm Safety Pat Griffin told RTE “Too many lives have been tragically lost in quad bike incidents. Wearing a helmet and undergoing proper training has to be a basic requirement for any quad user.”
“Machinery and vehicles, including quad bikes account for about half of all fatalities on farms. These new regulations can only benefit farmers and their families in trying to prevent future tragedy visiting our faming communities,” he added.
The new regulation obliges all ATV drivers to wear a motorcycle-type helmet or a specialist ATV helmet.
Helmets must have chin straps. Cyclist helmets, workplace hard hats and other helmets are not acceptable.
Drivers must also complete an ATV safety training course. Those who are already experienced ATV users can do a one-day course while new drivers must complete a two-day course.
The HSA says the most common accidents that result in death or injuries include being thrown off the bike due to loss of control, collisions, being crushed or drowned under overturned bikes, and pedestrians being struck.
It said incidents are caused by lack of training, lack of helmets, speed, unbalanced loading and uneven terrain.
