Nearly six months since launching a workplace subsidy to help pay for a Crush Protection Device for quad bikes at work, ACC has revealed 129 Quadbars and 39 Lifeguard CPDs have been purchased using the scheme.

And another 84 customers are currently in the process of purchasing their CPDs and completing their application, according to an ACC spokesman, who says ACC is encouraging more businesses to take advantage of this offer to reduce the risk of injury or death at work.

The subsidy scheme was launched at Fieldays in June in a bid lower the statistics of fatality and injury involving quad bikes at rural Kiwi workplaces.

The announcement also came shortly after Worksafe NZ made a policy clarification that it now strongly recommends a crush CPD be installed on all quad bikes used for work.

“Since the launch of the subsidy in June this year, sales of CPDs have grown 286 per cent compared with the same time period last year,” says the ACC spokesman.

“However, we’re aware many farmers still don’t know that ACC can help cover the cost, and we’d like to see a greater uptake of this subsidy.

“The devices we subsidise – the LifeGuard and Quadbar – are strongly recommended by WorkSafe and have been designed to withstand a quad rollover, providing greater safety to the rider, while having a limited effect on the performance of the vehicle itself.”

According to ACC, each year quad bikes are a major cause of death and serious injury with many incidents associated with accidental rollovers. “On average each year five people die, and ACC receives more than 1000 claims for work-related quad bikes accidents, costing $12 million.”

Currently, Worksafe says the use of CPDs will not be enforced – although discussions on the potentially life-saving devices will be taken up by WorkSafe staff when visiting farms and other workplaces across the country as a part of their assessments activity.

And ACC says if WorkSafe changes their recommendations to include new CPDs in the future “we will review our subsidy and update the list of eligible CPDs”.

The subsidy offer is $180 per CPD with a maximum of two CPD purchases per business, and is targeted at self-employed and small to medium businesses in sub-sectors at the highest injury rate, which includes beef, sheep and dairy farming.

“This is approximately 15-30 per cent cost discount, depending on what product is chosen.” The subsidy is currently available until June 2020.

To find out more information about the CPD subsidy scheme, visit: https://www.acc.co.nz/for-business/workplace-health-safety/helping-to-buy-crush-protection-devices-for-quad-bikes-at-work/