May 1st 2026 |
Safe Work Australia seeks feedback on measures to increase quad bike safety in occupational settings
Safe Work Australia is seeking feedback on regulatory and non-regulatory options to improve quad bike safety in any work setting. Submissions close at 11:59 PM (AEST) on Monday, 1 June 2026, giving every industry sector that operates these machines a direct say in what comes next.
Consultation at a glance
- Who is consulting: Safe Work Australia, the national policy body responsible for harmonised safety regulation
- What is being examined: a mix of regulatory and non-regulatory measures to reduce quad bike risks at work
- Who can respond: stakeholders, industry bodies, regulators and interested members of the public
- Closing date: 11:59 PM (AEST), Monday, 1 June 2026
- Why it matters: 245 people have lost their lives in incidents involving quad bikes in Australia since 2011
Why Safe Work Australia is looking at quad bikes again
Data provided by Safe Work Australia indicates that 245 individuals have lost their lives in quad bike incidents nationally since the year 2011. Fatal events of this kind span primary production, tourism, local government and other industry groups where such vehicles are relied on daily.
Because the toll has remained stubborn across more than a decade, the national agency wants evidence on what would genuinely improve safety standards for quad bikes rather than simply repeat existing messaging.
“Any stakeholders, industry representatives, WHS regulators and members of the public with an interest in quad bike safety in the workplace are encouraged to have their say,” Safe Work Australia said.
What options are on the table?
Feedback is invited across a full spectrum of possible controls, not a single preferred fix. At one end sit changes written into model regulations; at the other sit voluntary approaches such as guidance material, awareness campaigns and practical resources tailored to the agricultural industry.
Voluntary measures can be rolled out quickly, and industry associations are well placed to circulate them through their membership. Regulatory change, by contrast, carries enforceable weight for every duty holder once adopted. Whether Safe Work Australia is proposing new workplace quad bike regulations or backing softer measures will depend largely on what submissions reveal.
What this means for duty holders
Businesses that operate these vehicles already carry health and safety duties under harmonised legislation, including an obligation to eliminate or minimise risk so far as is reasonably practicable. Anything flowing from the current industry consultation would build on those existing obligations rather than replace them.
Model regulations only take effect once each jurisdiction adopts them, so industry-wide reform usually arrives in stages across states and territories. Updated industry guidance, by comparison, can be published and applied far sooner.
Practical steps operators can take now
- Match vehicle selection to the task — side-by-side utility vehicles may suit some jobs better than a quad
- Confirm operator protection devices are fitted where recommended by the manufacturer
- Set and enforce helmet use, speed limits and terrain restrictions in site rules
- Document induction, competency assessment and supervision arrangements for every rider
- Record incidents and near misses so industry data reflects genuine field conditions
Who should make a submission
Anyone with hands-on experience of these vehicles brings real value to a consultation of this kind. Rural producers, tour operators, contractors, equipment suppliers, researchers and industry leaders all hold evidence that a policy team cannot extract from statistics alone.
Responses describing terrain, task and vehicle choice help regulators understand current industry practice rather than assumed behaviour. Detailed accounts supported by incident records or maintenance logs carry more influence than general comment, so industry submissions should include specifics wherever possible.
How to have your say
Details of the consultation, along with the supporting discussion material, are available through the Safe Work Australia website. Submissions must be lodged before the 11:59 PM (AEST) deadline on Monday, 1 June 2026.
Sound documentation underpins better health and safety outcomes long before any rule changes, whatever direction this process takes. SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture maintains ready-to-edit documentation resources, including our Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) guide, to help businesses record controls clearly and consistently.
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