Quads, the so-called „all-terrain vehicles” or ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) are open, four-wheeled vehicles designed to move on various types of surfaces (paved and unpaved) and areas impassable to other vehicles.

Quads are also used by employees, e.g. in rescue services, forest guards, police, border guards and fire brigades. Sometimes it is a faster and more efficient way to move around and reach a given place.

As shown by CIOP, moving quad bikes, especially in difficult terrain, e.g. in the forest or on gravel roads, carries the risk of increased exposure to vibrations of their users and the resulting exposure to loss of health or negative functional effects. So far, the identification of these threats is very limited, including: due to the non-standard way of using such vehicles (as a means of work) and the requirements for measuring equipment.

It is the employer who must decide which quad to buy, taking into account the conditions in which it will be used. For example, in places where quad riding will take place in light terrain, where no specialized equipment is needed, a quad with a 2×4 drive will work well. On the other hand, in more difficult terrain, characterized by large unevenness and even wet ground, a quad with four-wheel drive will work better. Engine power is also important. Consequently, the risk of selecting equipment, its proper use and maintenance rests with the employer.

CIOP carried out work and provided research on the assessment of exposure to mechanical vibrations of employees using off-road vehicles at work. In particular, it was examined how mechanical vibrations affect the upper limbs of workers.

According to CIOP, the results of the conducted research indicate that at workplaces involving the use of ATVs there may be significant exceedances of the permissible values ​​for vibrations affecting the general body and the upper limbs. At such workplaces, first-phase prevention (so-called primary) should be undertaken, which aims to prevent the development of diseases caused by vibrations. This type of prevention involves limiting the exposure of people exposed to harmful factors by, among others, controlling the causes of risk.

The employer is responsible for occupational health and safety and the risks incurred in connection with it. with accidents at work or occupational diseases. Excessive use of quad bikes may result in the shock absorber losing its ability to dampen vibrations, which results in greater vibrations being transmitted to the body of the vehicle user. Depending on the vehicle, the types of shock absorbers are different, so the way they affect the body may also be different.

Employees should be informed about exposure to vibration at their workplaces and the results of occupational risk assessment, as well as about the actions taken to reduce this exposure.

What is very important, the employer should keep the vehicles in the best possible technical condition. He should constantly monitor the technical condition of quads, renovate them, conduct maintenance and modernization.

As CIOP points out, taking into account the way vibrations affect the human body, the following can be distinguished:

• sources of vibrations with a general effect (penetrating the human body through the legs, pelvis, back):
• floors, footrests, foot operated controls,
• seat,
• sources of vibrations acting on the upper limbs:
• steering wheels,
• control levers.

One of the main factors generating large vibration amplitudes in quad bikes is the type of surface and the speed at which the vehicle moves on it.

For both health protection and occupational safety reasons, it is extremely important to control and appropriately organize working time, and therefore the time of exposure to vibrations. Not exceeding the permissible working times is particularly important in situations where fatigue, compounded by vibrations, may lead to accidents. It is necessary to develop and adhere to appropriate work schedules that guarantee employees sufficient rest breaks. The human body’s reaction to vibrations also depends on climatic conditions, so employees should be protected against low temperatures and high ambient humidity.

Source:https://kadry.infor.pl/bhp/bezpieczenstwo-pracy/6299140,quady-w-pracy-czy-drgania-sa-szkodliwe-dla-pracownikow.html

Supported by Norway through Norway Grants 2014-2021, in the frame of the Programme “Social Dialogue – Decent Work”.