Daykin, Neb. farmer David Endorf will never forget the moment he found himself trapped under his ATV, alone and a quarter mile from his home.
“I didn’t have my mind on what I was doing, and when I backed up, the rear wheel dropped off the side of a small ravine,” Endorf recalls for the Telling the Story Project. “The sprayer, four-wheeler and I went down about 7' into a dry bed with the machine on top of me.”
He was bruised but otherwise OK, albeit stuck. Luckily, his cell phone survived the tumble and he was able to call for help.
Endorf isn’t alone in his experience. Ask almost any farmer about an ATV/UTV wreck or near miss, and they are sure to share a tale. These popular machines are useful, but they are also notoriously dangerous if used outside the wire of standard protocols. According to the latest data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, roughly 60% of work-related deaths on ATVs involve agriculture.
David Endorf’s story is featured in the Telling the Story Project. Click here to read more of his experience and other injury prevention messages.
“It doesn’t take six degrees of separation to find someone who’s been deeply impacted by an ATV incident,” says Megan Schossow, outreach director and coordinator of the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that on average, there are more than 700 deaths and 100,000 emergency room treated injuries on off-highway vehicles each year, with ATVs accounting for more than 95% of them.
This harvest season, as teams gopher from one field to the next, here are some safety considerations to help stay on task and off the incident report.
Wear the Helmet.
Make sure the helmet is sized correctly, hasn’t been in an incident or in use for too many years. “With kids, especially, it’s non-negotiable,” Schossow says. “It’s really important to prevent traumatic brain injuries.”
Use the UTV Seatbelt.
The roll cage won’t provide protection if the seatbelt isn’t properly worn. ”Many of these machines won’t go above a certain mile per hour without the seatbelt buckled,” says Brian Kuhl, president and CEO of the Progressive Agriculture.
Right-Size Your Ride.
Match body size and age to an appropriate machine. Keep hands on handlebars, feet on foot pads and maintain center of gravity in the seat. Most child injuries/fatalities are from using too big of machines.
Tanks Get Tippy.
Adding weight to the front or back of the machine changes the center of balance. “A machine with water on it or a spray tank will tip at a much less steep angle,” Schossow says.
Be Road Aware.
Most ATV/UTV are intended for off-road operation and lack public road equipment, such as signals, appropriate lighting and tires meant for paved surfaces.
Operate With Care
“These machines are not designed for pavement as they are really designed for gravel, dirt or something that’s looser and rougher,” Schossow says. “These machines just aren’t designed to do what our cars and trucks do.”
Experts recommend learning and understanding more about these important tools.
“I know equipment and other assets are important, but shouldn’t people be the thing we really care about the most,” Schossow asks. “We want to keep those people around.”
