A recent incident involved the rollover of a side-by-side vehicle (SSV; also known as a multi-utility vehicle/MUV). The worker was using the SSV to move livestock. He suffered serious leg and arm injuries.
Contributing factors
- The operator was using the vehicle without proper instruction and training.
- The operator had not reviewed the owner’s manual and all warning and instruction labels.
- The cab nets or doors were not in place.
Action required
If you are a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) and you have SSVs/MUVs in your workplace, you must ensure that:
- all operators review and understand the owner’s manual and warning and instruction labels
- cab nets or doors are in place on the vehicle at all times
- the vehicle is operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions
- operators wear seatbelts at all times
- passengers are not carried unless the operator has more than 2 hours of driving experience unless being trained in the operation of the vehicle
- all operators are provided with adequate instruction and training that is relevant to the hazards and risk associated with using the vehicle. This should be:
- provided by a registered training organisation (RTO), and an example of this training would be ‘Operate side-by-side utility vehicles’ AHCMOM211A (see below), or
- a comprehensive on-the-job training program that includes assessing the operator’s competency.
Training
To find an RTO providing the training course ‘Operate side-by-side utility vehicles’ AHCMOM211A, go to my.skills.gov.au.
First published in November 2015