Welcome, the California Farm Bureau Federation and State Fund have worked as partners in
California agriculture since nineteen forty three.
As industry leaders it is part of our mission to help you do your job as
safely as possible.
Since the nineteen eighties ATV related accidents including all
recreational uses have resulted in over nine thousand fatalities nationwide.
Each year these accidents result in over one hundred and fifty thousand trips to
emergency rooms.
We've made this video to help keep you your family and your employees
from becoming one of these statistics.
These are fun and powerful machines and it is tempting to ride
fast and take chances
but leave the stunts to the pros you have a job to do.
There is no substitute
for starting out with competent training and plenty of
practice.
Before riding seek out a professional or experienced trainer.
possibly through your local ATV dealer
for a course in basic operation and riding skills.
ATVs are designed to be driver active.
Driver active vehicles like
motorcycles or snowmobiles
require the drivers body movement
to help control the vehicle.
This takes skill concentration judgment and physical strength.
Practice on a flat and open area away from other vehicles until you get the feel
for the ATV you will be using.
After you are comfortable you can ride the rougher terrain and slopes.
this up front investment in time can pay
big dividends
there are many uses for ATVs on farms and ranches, from herding animals
to mowing grass and cutting brush,
to spraying fertilizers or pesticides,
to basic transportation.
The one thing that most of these functions have in common
is that they are performed over rough terrain and
often under less than ideal conditions.
Farming work is often done at night, in cold and/or wet weather,
and under time pressure
and these stresses can affect your operation of the equipment.
Take the time to read and understand the manufacturer's manual for the
for the ATV or farm utility vehicle you'll be using.
The first line of defense against injury comes down to something as basic as
the clothes you wear to work.
When you know you'll be driving in an ATV,
be sure to wear it heavy pants or jeans.
and a long-sleeved work shirt and or jacket to help avoid injury from brush.
Always wear boots, your sneakers are not adequate to protect your feet and ankles.
Gloves will help keep your fingers from getting scrapped by brush
and in cold weather are essential to keep your hands from becoming numb and
compromising vehicle control.
Wearing an approved helmet and eye protection is recommended in nearly all
ATV manuals and on warning decals.
Depending on your particular use of ATVs,
the Injury and Illness Prevention Plan at your work site
and your employer's safety rules
helmets and eye protection may be required. Check with your supervisor
first.
Note that California law requires helmet use on all public roads in lands.
Here is what to look for in a helmet:
Make sure it is not sustained any major damage.
If it has been damaged its ability to protect you may be compromised.
Is the helmet generally in good condition?
Does the chin-strap work properly?
The critical safety equipment in Farm Utility Vehicles is the roll-over
protection structure. But, it can only work properly and save you from injury
if you wear your seatbelt.
All riders in any utility vehicle equipped with the rollover structure
should always wear seat belts.
Start the inspection by just walking around the vehicle.
Look to see if anything is tangled in the wheels or an axle.
Look for major cuts or defects on all four tires.
Verify the tire pressure by pinching:
If they are soft inflate to manufacturers specifications.
Are the wheel bolts tight?
Look to see that the gas tank is full
you may be in for a long walk back if you don't.
Check the oil level in the for any signs of leaking.
Verify that you have an emergency first aid kit on board.
Even if you don't need one,
you never know when someone else will.
Test the foot pegs and foot plates to see that they are solid and there's no
movement.
Look at the throttle cables and brake lines for signs of wear and tear.
ATVs have a variety of starting procedures.
Check the owner's manual before you start the machine.
make sure your machine is in neutral before starting.
Next, turn on the ignition and see that the lights come on.
Turn the handle bars left
and right.
The throttles should run smoothly with the handlebars turned either direction.
check the parking brake
probably still be engaged from when the last rider parked.
Start out slowly
and test pump the brakes they should stop smoothly with no binding
or pulling left or right.
If you keep a log,
date and sign and make note of any items that need attention.
And make sure your supervisor knows of any problems you find.
One characteristic that makes ATVs handle differently than most vehicles
is that they generate a lot of torque.
This means that they deliver an unusual amount of
power at low rpm.
therefore throttle control is
crucial to your safety.
Never rev up and pop the clutch.
Too much throttle and an ATV can
dig right out and backflip on top of you.
Here are some basic
tips for riding on normal flat terrain
always look ahead and
plan for the terrain you are approaching.
Hazards can come from anywhere: There may be low branches,
a tree down in the path
or an animal in the road.
If you see something that looks tricky
or you are not sure about,
get off the ATV and walk the route first.
When you drive looking ahead of you can plan for the terrain before you get there
rather than reacting at the last second.
Always ask yourself: How stable is the ground?
Are there any low branches?
How deep are the ditches and holes?
Is there room to safely turn around?
Use an appropriate speed for the ground conditions and visibility.
The key to avoiding hazards
is to always be able to stop safely.
And never drag a foot on the ground while the ATV is moving.
Serious injuries can occur when a foot and ankle get caught and twisted between
the foot-plate
and the ground.
Remember: "Keep your feet on the pegs
and you won't break their legs."
Every vehicle has a center of gravity or a point where that vehicle is balanced
in all directions.
Each model ATV is a little different, but the center of gravity for a
typically ATV
is about six inches above the center of the axle.
and about six inches,
rear of the halfway point between the two axles.
As we add wait to the vehicle starting with the weight of the driver and then
any items of loaded onto racks, the center of gravity changes it shifts
higher and either forward or backward
depending on where the load is placed.
Therefore, when your ATV is fully loaded and traversing a slope,
the center of gravity can be dangerously close to the tipping point.
In
this situation, hitting a log or a rock could be enough to cause a roll over.
Rider's must always be
conscious of what they are carrying or towing,
and how it affects their center of gravity.
Experienced riders learn to counter the ever shifting center of gravity by
being
"driver active." That means
shifting your body in a direction that makes the ATV more stable,
for example, leaning and
weighting the outside foot-peg while turning.
Or crouching low and forward when climbing up a slope.
With time it becomes second nature
and you'll not have to even think about being "driver active."
It is never a good idea to carry
passengers on a single seat ATV.
The machine was made for one rider only.
ATVs are made to transport you over rough terrain and not for hauling
large loads.
Any extra load directly affects the center of gravity
handling and braking.
Always attach gear to the racks either fore or aft.
And, place the load below the center of the ATV as possible.
do your best to balance the load fore aft as well as side to side.