Farmers rely on quad bikes or ATVs every day, but they remain one of the highest-risk pieces of equipment on UK farms. ATV training helps by ensuring staff have the knowledge and expertise to operate an ATV well. Training has been shown to reduce workplace incidents and help employees get up to speed faster. ATV training on a farm in the UK is a necessity, both for insurance purposes but also for the wellbeing of staff.
Is ATV training a legal requirement in the UK?
The responsibility is on employers (or self-employed) to ensure safety at work is accounted for. Under PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) the employee operating the ATV must be competent in its use, which usually requires training. The ATV should be used in a safe manner and the vehicle must be regularly maintained for safe operation.
The Health and Safety Executive is the UK regulator and has the responsibility of making sure farms are providing the relevant training where necessary. If they don't comply this could result in a fine, prohibition notice or even criminal prosecution if someone is injured.
Who needs ATV training on a farm?
You may be under the impression as long as one person has the training, they can keep the other operators safe. This isn't the case. One trained person cannot ensure others operate safely. Each person who uses the ATV or quad bike must be individually trained. If the person only uses the vehicle once, they still have to be trained, this includes:
- Seasonal workers.
- Contractors.
- Full-time staff.
How long does an ATV training course take?
It depends on the provider. Usually courses are 1 or 2 days in length. However, this may vary according to factors such as the level of experience and the ratio of instructors to learners. It's recommended for people with experience to partake in a one-day course and people with less experience to take the two-day course. Complete beginners may need further training on top of this. The provider may be able to tailor parts of the course to match the ability level of the learners.
When should you get refresher training?
Refresher training isn't legally required. However, under PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) operators must remain competent, which often leads to the need for refresher training. This is extremely important in the following circumstances:
- 6–12+ months off ATVs.
- Seasonal farm workers returning.
- Staff changing roles.
- Changes of ATV or equipment.
It can also be useful to consider environmental changes. If you or your staff aren't competent operating in adverse weather, it might be worth booking some training sessions.
At a minimum, it's generally considered best practice to book refresher training every 3-5 years.
Book ATV training by a Lantra Approved Instructor today. Find our training page for more details.
Contact us to discuss on-farm ATV training or group bookings.
Key takeaways
- Training, while not always a legal requirement, vastly improves safety and efficiency.
- Less frequent ATV operators pose a greater risk.
- Diverse training should be completed to ensure the operator is familiar with many types of conditions.
- ATV training is typically 1-2 days long, with beginners needing more time.
- Regulated by HSE under PUWER.