Quad bikes safety standard

Quad bikes are popular and useful machines particularly in the agricultural sector. However, quads are also a significant cause of death or injury at workplaces nationally. Many of these fatalities involve rollovers that result in crush and head injuries or, asphyxiation where the rider has been trapped under the machine.

The Australian Government has introduced a ‘two stage’ mandatory safety standard to help protect quad users. The first stage applies to all new quad bikes and imported second-hand quad bikes from 11 October 2020. The second stage will commence 11 October 2021 and will include additional requirements for general use quad bikes.

Key requirements

Stage 1

From 11 October 2020, all new and imported second-hand quad bikes are required to:

1. meet the specified requirements of the US standard and/or European standard for quad bikes
2. have a rollover warning label affixed so that when the quad bike is used, it will be clearly visible and legible
3. provide information in the owner’s manual or information handbook on the risk of rollover
4. be tested for lateral static stability, and display the angle at which the quad bike tips on to two wheels on a hang tag at the point of sale.
5. have a spark arrestor that conforms to relevant Australian standards or relevant state law.

Stage 2

From October 2021, general use quad bikes are required to meet the minimum stability requirements of:

• lateral roll stability — a minimum Tilt Table Ratio (TTR) of 0.55 (must not tip on to two wheels on a slope less than 28.81 degrees)
• front and rear longitudinal pitch stability — a minimum TTR of 0.8 (must not tip on to two wheels on a slope less than 38.65 degrees)

The quad bike must also be fitted with an operator protection device (OPD) or have one integrated into its design.

For more details of the new safety standard visit:

Product safety standards - Quad bikes

Product safety – Quad video

For further general information on the use of quad bikes in workplaces, NT WorkSafe encourages operators of quad bikes to refer to the guide in the link below.

Quad bikes in workplaces