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HSE Information
Safe use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in agriculture and forestry
–
AIS Sheet 33
Introduction
This information sheet gives advice on the safe use of ATVs. It covers
the two main types used in off-road working in agriculture and
forestry, which are:
•
sit-astride ATV / sit-in machines
•
side-by-side mini-utility vehicles,
The Full HSE information sheet can be found here or using the QR
Code at the bottom of the article:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais33.pdf
and must be read prior to
any ATV/UTV use. Below are related extracts to trailed machinery.
REMEMBER - GET PROPERLY TRAINED AND ALWAYS WEAR
HEAD PROTECTION
Training
Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
(PUWER), there is a legal requirement for employers to provide
adequate training, and to ensure that only employees who have
received appropriate training in their safe use, including the use of
any towed equipment or attachments, are permitted to ride ATVs.
The same requirements apply to the self- employed. HSE regards
training provided by recognised training providers as being
adequate for the purposes of PUWER.
Protective clothing
More than half of all ATV riders have been thrown off at some time.
As these machines are not fitted with either a cab or roll bar, your
only protection is what you wear.
●
Head protection is vital
. The majority of ATV fatalities in the
UK in the last ten years have been caused by head injuries.
Nobody who died from head injuries was wearing a helmet.
Helmets would certainly have prevented most, if not all, the
deaths.
You should always wear a helmet when riding an
ATV
. All helmets should have a chinstrap and be capable of
being used with suitable eye protection. The type of helmet
chosen should be based on an assessment of the
circumstances in which the ATV will be used, eg the types of
surface travelled over and anticipated speeds. The harder the
surface and higher the speed the greater the degree of
protection needed.
NB: Forestry helmets and industrial hard
hats are not acceptable for any ATV operations
.
●
Wear clothing that is strong and covers your arms and legs.
Gloves are useful for protection and to keep hands warm in
cold weather for good control of the ATV. Wear sturdy, ankle-
covering footwear, eg boots or wellingtons that are strong,
supportive and have good wet grip.
●
Protect your eyes from insects and branches with either a
visor or goggles.
Trailed equipment and loads
Ensure all riders know the manufacturers recommended
towing capacity and drawbar loading limit. Always operate
within these requirements.
Remember that your ability to control the ATV by your body
movements will be considerably reduced when carrying a load or
towing a trailer.
●
When selecting trailed equipment look for:
-
over-run brakes;
-
a swivel hitch drawbar;
-
bead lock rims on wheels;
-
a low centre of gravity and a wide wheel track;
-
a long drawbar; and
-
attachment points for securing a load.
●
Check the weight ratio between your ATV and its trailed load.
This needs to be assessed for each operation. As a general
guide, on level ground, braked trailed equipment can be a
maximum of four times the unladen weight of the ATV. For
unbraked trailed equipment the maximum should be twice
the unladen weight. These loads should be reduced when
working on slopes, uneven ground or poor surface
conditions. Follow the manufacturers advice for your
particular machine.
●
Weight transfer is also important. Stability and resistance to
jack-knifing is improved if some load is transferred onto the
ATVʼs
drawbar. Approximately 10% of the gross weight of the
loaded trailer is recommended, but this should not exceed
the manufacturers drawbar loading limit. Remember that
weight transfer can change dramatically when you start going
up or down hill.
●
When selecting mounted equipment, make sure it is within
the manufacturers approved weight limit, with a low centre
of gravity, and controls which are easy to operate but do not
create a hazard. Where equipment is added to one end of the
machine, add ballast at the other end to maintain stability.
●
Loads carried on racks must be well secured, e.g. with ratchet
straps, and be evenly balanced between the front and rear,
except where they are deliberately altered to aid stability
when going up or down a slope.
●
Only tow a load from the hitch point. Loads towed from other
points such as the rear rack have caused sudden rear
overturning even on slight slopes or with slight acceleration.
Ropes or chains should not be used to drag a load where they
can become caught on a wheel. This may lead to
entanglement with the brake cable, causing unexpected
braking.
Further information
For information about health and safety go to
© Crown copyright This publication
may be freely reproduced, except for
advertising, endorsement or
commercial purposes. First published
05/99. Please acknowledge the source
as HSE.
