labor lawAdivision of labor law center

All-Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs, are dangerous in the workplace. They are attractive, of course, but they are also very difficult to drive. They have big tires, with low-pressure, and tend to incline in curves.

Accidents involving ATVs are increasing, and so are deaths. ATVs have become common in some industries, like construction, facilities administration, public security, and agriculture.

According to a Kansas OSHA alert, most of the accidents occur in the workplace. In only 9 years, 1625 people were injured in accidents with ATVs, and 113 died. Most of the workers hurt lost one or several days of labor.

One of the principal reasons of accidents is the excess weight on the vehicles. Employers that use ATVs must follow manufacturer recommendations referring to the weight and number of people allowed. In general, these vehicles have limited room and are designed to be used by only one rider. The vehicle itself has less stability than a car, motorcycle, or a bike, so if the driver adds more weight, the ATV becomes even more unstable.

Using a helmet is a must, and the driver should be specifically trained to operate ATVs. Some employees think that having a driver’s license for a car or motorcycle is enough to drive an ATV, but it is not true. These vehicles are very different.

In 1982, ATV deaths were at 29. In 2004 were 470, and that represents a shocking increase. These numbers were published by the Consumer Product Commission. In the last 10 years, the statistics about ATV injuries rose to 800,000. They are numbers about recreational users, but reflect an alarming reality.

ATV guidelines were provided in the Kansas OSHA alert, and specify that these vehicles are intended for use by a single user with no accompanying person. To carry equipment sometimes ATVs have rear or front storage racks.

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