Yossi Berger

National H&S Co-ordinatorAustralian Workers’ Union

October 2012

QUAD BIKES: PRONE TO ROLLOVER OR PRONE TO MISUSE?

The advice given

» Training » personal responsibility » Free choice » task sensitive » ‘having the bubble’

“Having the bubble" Quad bike rider

Being able to construct and maintain a cognitive map that allows the rider to integrate such diverse inputs as:

– Task status and requirements, – Changing information that flows from environment in motion , – real-time, present status ,– performance of various sounds, traction, friction… – One’s own performance, pressures and limitations,– The fact that the ‘dog has just died’

into a single picture of the task’s overall situation and operational status.

‘Misusers’ and personal responsibility

1. Know and understand.

2. Free to choose (must be aware of options).

3. Therefore, any incident is result of own choice and behaviour.

Some principles

» Other people’s children, 4-60» Precautionary principle» Pre-empting catastrophes, (or more of them)» Often arguing by analogy/or abductive reasoning» Dealing with gaps/chasms in knowledge

Crossing the chasm

Some H&S actions by the AWU

Restricted use of tractors, conveyor belts, crushers, explosives, dangerous chemicals (cyanide, benzene, parathion ethyl),areas with asbestos, areas with synthetic mineral fibres, areas with lead exposure.….

2011 banned using quad bikes without CPDs.

Rider active Mars rovers??

Summary1. Do not accept that quad bikes-in-use are stable machines.

2. Do not accept that the appeal to personal responsibility and free choice in this issue is genuine or relevant.

3. Do not accept that ‘rider active’ style is a fair or viable safety strategy.

4. Do not accept the industry’s interpretations of research about CPDs.

5. AND….. Do not believe that matters of stability, children and passengers will be fixed in less than 10 years.

6. I do not accept that I must wait for everyone to agree before making some judgements.