labor lawAdivision of labor law center

Think of ATVs and you usually think of weekend fun. But All-Terrain Vehicles are seeing greater use in the workplace, and with that comes a trend that’s anything but fun. ATV accidents and fatalities on the job are increasing.

An Alabama OSHA alert says the accidents and fatalities are up partly because of the increased use of the sport vehicles on the job. They’re used in construction, facilities management, police work, and agriculture.

In fact, there are a number of reasons why accident and fatality rates are up:

ATVs handle differently from a car or bicycle. They are not easy to drive. Combine low-pressure fat tires with handlebars and you’ve got a combination that can result in trouble.

They have a tendency to turn over on slopes or during sharp cornering.

Sometimes they’re overloaded. They’re designed to carry one driver and no passengers, and don’t have the ability to carry equipment. With overloading, flips on inclines become more of a danger.

The Alabama OSHA alert stresses that drivers should adhered to the manufacturer’s operational guidelines for weight limit and numbers of passengers when driving an ATV. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind. First, wear a helmet. Second, receive training to operate an ATV, because even if you are licensed for car or truck operation, the ATV will handle differently. OSHA has a set of guidelines for off-road motorized vehicle with low-pressure tires, handlebars for steering, and a seat straddled by the driver. The vehicle may also include a storage rack at back or front for limited carrying.

OSHA’s numbers show that since 1992 the rate of deaths on ATVs has gone up steadily until 9 years later, when 113 people died as a result of using them. Some workers were hurt badly enough to be off work for a day or more. Altogether there were 1,625 accidents in 9 years. ATV workplace deaths may soon outnumber those of recreational users. In recreational use, there were more than 800,000 injuries in the last 10 years.

Last 10 posts by Amelia

• Colorado Reduces Minimum Wage in 2010 - November 20th, 2009
• New Law Expands FMLA and NDAA for Military Families - October 30th, 2009
• California Approves Exempt Salary Reduction - October 16th, 2009
• 3 New Illinois Laws - October 9th, 2009
• New Definition of Disability - September 25th, 2009
• E-Verify Regulations - September 18th, 2009
• New USERRA Regulations - September 2nd, 2009
• E-Verify News - August 26th, 2009
• New Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Law - August 19th, 2009
• Louisiana Minimum Wage - August 3rd, 2009