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Louisiana Worker Safety Alert

June 11th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

A recent report from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Louisiana has revealed some shocking news… according to the Louisiana worker safety alert, the number of injuries and deaths which have resulted from the use of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) in the workplace is on the rise. While most people may not realize that ATVs are even used in the workplace, these small vehicles have been experiencing an increased popularity among diverse industries such as law enforcement, security, agriculture, and even manufacturing.

The troubling statistics revealed in the Louisiana worker safety alert indicate that workplace accidents involving ATVs have been increasing each year between 1992 and 2004. This is due in large part to the fact that these vehicles don’t handle like most vehicles that the users may be used to operating; they can be difficult to steer, the suspension is different than they may be used to, and they can be prone to tipping over on inclines or when going over especially rough terrain. To make matters worse, the ATVs are often overloaded and become even more prone to tip over.

In order to help combat these injuries and deaths, OSHA has made some recommendations for employers. Before allowing employees to operate ATVs, the employer should make sure that they have received proper training on the operation of the ATV and are familiar with how it handles. More care should be taken when placing any payload on the vehicle, making sure that it isn’t overloaded, and all ATV users should wear a protective helmet at all times. Though these steps may seem simple and like common sense, OSHA found that in many cases no such training was taking place and important safety precautions were being ignored by workplace ATV operators.

Hopefully, as more employers heed the advice on the Louisiana OSHA alert the number of workplace accidents involving ATVs will begin to decline.