ATV SAFETY CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF

PICTURED ABOVE: Jill Hewitt, NAAC chief executive

The National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) is launching a social media campaign on ATV safety to impress the importance of wearing a helmet.

Farmers and contractors are being invited to share photos of themselves wearing a helmet with the hashtag #wearitandshareit.

The aim say the NAAC, is to make all operators ask why anyone would put themselves, or their workers, at risk (and break the law) by not wearing a helmet on a sit-astride ATV (aka a quad bike)?

The Association says in the last five years, ATVs were involved in 14 deaths in agriculture - the most significant cause of deaths involving moving vehicles in the industry. Many, other serious and life-changing incidents are happening all the time, they say - yet there is still resistance to wearing a helmet.

The NAAC is raising the question why anyone would choose to ride, or deliberately send a worker or family member out on a job with a sit-astride ATV, with no helmet, knowing there is a real and proven risk of loss of life, which could easily be reduced by using a helmet.

Commenting Jill Hewitt, NAAC chief executive said, “ATV users should take pride in wearing a helmet to protect their safety and help minimise the risk of the worst possible news being delivered to their family if an incident occurs. None of us are infallible and the NAAC wants the industry to get behind us by sharing photos of themselves wearing a helmet under #wearitandshareit”

Continuing Jill said, “It is a legal requirement to wear a helmet at work and if you leave it behind, you are more likely to suffer a serious head injury, or worse, if you come off. The NAAC is working with Logic helmets to provide a discount to members, removing any final excuses why a helmet would not be worn.”

Of course say the NAAC, simply wearing a helmet will not keep everyone fully protected and it is vitally important to ensure that anyone riding an ATV is competent and trained to handle the machine.