Staying safe in side-by-sides
Guidance on how to stay safe and control risks associated with side-by-side vehicles.
Side-by-sides
Side-by-sides can be an excellent tool on farming properties. They have extra space for passengers and a greater load carrying capacity than motorbikes and quad bikes. But, like any vehicle operated on farms, they come with risks. There are some simple ways that you can control these risks to stay safe.
Risks
Side-by-sides can pose risks to drivers and passengers. When a side-by-side overturns, people can be:
- thrown from the vehicle
- crushed by the vehicle
- thrown around inside the cabin
- hit by loose objects.
These risks can cause serious or even fatal injuries.
Side-by-sides also pose a risk of running over other people.
Controlling risks
The following measures can help you control the risk of injury or death while operating a side-by-side.
Plan your work and pick a suitable vehicle
Before you decide how a job will be done, consider the nature of the task and environmental conditions like:
- weather
- ground conditions
- terrain.
You need to adapt to these conditions daily, or even hourly, depending on the weather.
Picking the right, fit-for-purpose vehicle for the task is an important first step. Consider the vehicle’s design and limitations. Sometimes another type of vehicle or even walking may be safer options.
Side-by-side stability
Side-by-sides are inherently less stable than a road-going vehicle and often lose control and overturn, even at low speeds due to their:
- wheelbase (distance between front and rear axles)
- wheel track (distance between the centerline of two wheels on the same axle)
- suspension setup
- centre of gravity.
The stability of a side-by-side can be greatly impacted by the:
- load limit and the cargo its carrying
- trailer or implements being towed
- operator and occupants.
Consider these factors when operating a side-by-side. This will help ensure stability is maintained.
- Cargo
Many side-by-sides are used to feed livestock or for spraying applications. Both tasks will need large, heavy loads - sometimes 300kg or more, placed in the cargo bed.
Carrying heavy loads can:
- impact the effectiveness of braking by shifting the center of gravity
- make the vehicle harder to control.
Cargo load capacities can differ between side-by-side models, so make sure you know the limits of your specific vehicle.
Ensure any heavy items are effectively restrained to prevent movement. Movement of heavy items and liquid slosh can make vehicles unstable and unpredictable when being driven.
When operating at speed, tanks should be full or empty to prevent any liquids from sloshing around or surging. Sloshing or surging can:
- cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly
- reduce the stability of the vehicle.
Make sure the tank size does not exceed the load rating of the vehicle. Taller tanks can increase the likelihood of the vehicle overturning.
For low speed operations (for example, spraying crops), make sure tanks are baffled. A baffled tank is one that uses walls or panels (called baffles) that control the movement of liquids inside. Baffles improve safety by dispersing wave energy. They prevent sudden surges in the liquid, making the tank's contents behave like a solid. This reduces the risk of the tank losing stability.
- Trailers
When towing a trailer, the weight of it can influence the stability of the side-by-side. If the weight of the trailer exceeds the side-by-side's capacity, the side-by-side may not be able to stop the load’s momentum. This can cause the vehicle to jack-knife and roll over. Ensure trailers are fitted with safety chains that can be crossed and braked where possible.
- Operators
Some side-by sides-may be as light as 500kg. An operator weighing 100kg can significantly shift the center of gravity to one side, which can increase the risk of the vehicle rolling over.
Keep it in the ROPS zone
Roll Over Protection Structures (ROPS) are an important safety feature on side-by-sides. ROPS provide a safe zone that protects the operator and passengers if the vehicle overturns. Structurally sound ROPS reduces the risk of being crushed by the vehicle.
Keeping within the ROPS zone requires the following:
- Seatbelts
As a farm owner or manager, you must ensure anyone driving a vehicle on your property is doing so safely. That includes wearing their seatbelt properly.
Seatbelts keep the operator and passengers within the ROPS zone. This protects them from serious injuries or death.
Many side-by-side models have a speed limiter that engages when the seatbelt is not clipped in. Excessive speed can lead to incidents on side-by-sides, particularly on uneven terrain.
Drivers who bypass the speed limiter by clipping the seatbelt in behind them are deliberately overriding a known safety control and are increasing the risk of injury or death.
How can you ensure people wear their seatbelts?
Here are some solutions that other farm owners and managers say have helped:
Lead by example. If all owners and managers wear seatbelts, it sets a standard for your workers.
- Have regular conversations about the importance of wearing seatbelts.
- Reinforce those conversations. If you see someone not wearing their seatbelt, pull them up and talk with them about the risks of not doing so.
- Document the fact that wearing seatbelts in farm vehicles is mandatory. You can include it in employee contracts, induction and training, and document it in policies and procedures for your workplace.
You could also consider using an engineering control to ensure seatbelts are worn properly, for example, fitting a sequentially interlocked seatbelt to the side-by-side.
- Doors and door nets
Doors and door nets in side-by-sides keep body parts within the ROPS zone. People have injured their limbs (even while wearing a seatbelt) because a door or net was removed, or not securely closed.
Terrain
Different terrain can reduce the stability of a side-by-side. For example:
- steep slopes
- steps or retaining walls
- pits, holes or deep ruts
- soft sand or mud.
Geo fencing
Geo fencing is a technology that uses GPS tracking to monitor the location of powered mobile plant. You can add areas of your farm to the map. The technology can then automatically detect when the powered mobile plant enters or exits an area.
Safe speeds
Just because a side-by-side can travel 30, 65 or even over 100km/h, doesn't mean it should. Just like cars, operating a side-by-side at high speed can lead to serious incidents such as overturning when:
- oversteering or swerving
- carrying heavy cargo
- operating on steep slopes
- encountering rough, slippery or soft ground conditions.
High speeds can lead to collisions with people, livestock, structures or other powered mobile plant.
It's best to pick side-by-sides with a maximum speed below the farm's speed limit. If the vehicle can exceed the speed limit on your farm, consider engineering controls such as:
- governing devices
- speed limiters.
When combined with geo fencing, a speed limiter can automatically reduce the speed of the side-by-side when operating:
- around offices, sheds, houses and other structures
- on sloping terrain.
This combination of technology can also be used to prevent side-by-sides from:
- accessing exclusion zones
- operating on steep terrain
- operating on public roads.
Integrated vehicle monitoring systems
Integrated vehicle monitoring systems can be configured with geo fencing, impact sensors, seatbelt and speed monitors, pre-start and alerting systems.
This can be used to:
- monitor who and how the side-by-side is being operated
- monitor the location of employees who are working alone
- alert farm managers if the vehicle is not operated appropriately
- find employees who have been involved in an incident.
Watch how Aurora Dairies used a GPS tracking device to improve safety when using side-by-sides.
Operating hours and visibility
Operating a vehicle when there is reduced visibility increases the potential for animal strikes and swerving to avoid animals or obstacles. Conditions that impact on visibility may include:
- weather conditions such as fog or heavy rain
- time of day such as early morning, at dusk or low light.
Side-by-side maintenance
Before you use a vehicle, check to make sure it's in a well maintained and operational condition. Only use a side-by-side after you’ve done a pre-start safety check. This can include checking:
- safety devices including seatbelts and starting interlocks are working correctly
- ROPS is structurally sound
- the tyre pressure and tread depth
- for any damage to the side-by-side.
Also, make sure the vehicle undergoes planned inspection and maintenance. Each vehicle is different. Follow the maintenance schedule in the user manual and keep a record of maintenance activity.
Vehicles should always be checked by a professional following any rollover or collision for structural and mechanical integrity.
Operator age limit
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations about operator age limits. Generally, side-by-side drivers should be 16 years old or over.
If an operator can't reach the controls while sitting with their seatbelt on, they should not operate the side-by-side.
Communication
Make sure there is a reliable method of communicating with workers across your property. This includes consideration of mobile phone coverage and connectivity or use of personal 2-way radios to ensure that people working alone can call for help in case of an incident or any other communication needs.
Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.
You should also create procedures for checking on people who are working alone.
Information, instruction, training and supervision
Train people to operate the side-by-side competently and safely. This is especially important:
- in unfamiliar or high-risk terrain
- for unfamiliar tasks
- when using new or unfamiliar attachments or implements including towing trailers.
You should also have a suitable induction for the operator of the side-by-side.
Print off the Side-by-side vehicle (SSV) safety poster and place it in the shed near the SSV for easy reference.
Helmets
Many manufacturers recommend wearing helmets in side-by-sides. Make sure you follow the manufacturer's recommendations for suitable helmets for your side-by-side.
In the event of a roll-over or even a near-miss, there may be a risk that someone inside the side-by-side may hit their head on the:
- ROPS
- front windscreen
- side door
- rear cargo screen
- accessories mounted inside the cabin.
Wearing helmets while operating or riding a side-by-side will reduce the risk of head injuries.
Passengers
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations about passengers in side-by-sides. Many have passenger height and ability restrictions specific to the side-by-side.
Passengers should only ride in seats with fitted seatbelts. A passenger should not ride in the side-by-side if they are sitting with their seatbelt on and can’t:
- place their feet on the floor
- reach the handholds.
Passengers should never ride in the cargo-bed, tray, front tool rack or a trailer being towed by the side-by-side. They should also always wear a helmet when riding a side-by-side.
Your responsibilities under the law
As a farmer you may be an employer, self-employed person, or manage and control a farm. No matter which one you are, you have duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OHS Act). These can include ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable:
- You provide a farm that is safe and without risks to the health and safety of your employees, contractors and independent contractors.
- Your farm activities don't expose anyone to health and safety risks (for example, your family, friends, visitors or independent contractors).
- You provide and maintain safe plant and equipment.
- You give your employees the necessary information, instruction, training and supervision to do their work safely.
- You regularly consult with your employees (including any health and safety representatives), independent contractors and labour hire workers about health and safety matters on your farm.
If you’re an employer or self-employed person, you also have specific duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (OHS Regulations) when it comes to powered mobile plant like side-by-sides. This includes eliminating or reducing the risk of:
- the vehicle overturning
- objects falling on the operator of the vehicle
- the operator being ejected from the vehicle
- the vehicle colliding with pedestrians, vehicles, stock or infrastructure.
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