labor lawAdivision of labor law center

According to a recent Alaska OSHA alert, accidents with All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are increasing every day. The most alarming fact is that they are responsible for more and more misfortunes at work. These vehicles, traditionally linked to recreational and sport users, today are a common tool in several economical sectors, including agricultural, construction and others.

If we total all the accidents with ATVs, including recreational, work purposes, and others, the number of deaths rose to 470 in 2004, according to a Consumer Product Safety Commission report. In 1982, there were 29 deaths related to ATVs. In the last 10 years, 800,000 injuries were reported.

In the case of workplace accidents, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that since 1992 ATV accidents have increased dramatically. In the past 9 years, 1625 people were injured, some severely, with the result of several days of work lost. In the same period, 113 people died in ATV accidents at work.

ATVs are less stable than other vehicles, like motorcycles or cars, and they are more difficult to steer. They have low pressure and fat tires and tend to flip over when the driver takes a curve sharply.

These vehicles become more unstable when they carry excessive weight. In general, as according to manufacturers’ guidelines, the ATVs are designed to allow only one rider, and have special spaces to carry equipment. If they are used with two or more people at the same time, or with an excess of luggage, they become more difficult to drive, and become more hazardous.

The use of a helmet is recommended and also special training to drive ATVs. Most employees assume that if they have a driver’s license for a car or motorcycle, they don’t need additional training. But they are wrong. ATVs are different to drive, and the users must receive specific instructions to operate them.

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