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ATVs & UTVs: Safety in the workplace and community

Agricultural Issues

Shelly Dee Jepsen
Professor and State Specialist, Ag Safety and Health
Ohio State University Extension
Columbus

Abstract

Between 2019 and 2023, emergency rooms across the United States treated over 500,000 off-road ATV/UTV injuries. This session promotes safe ATV and UTV operation through a comprehensive approach that integrates education, engineering awareness, enforcement of company policies, and compliance with roadway safety ordinances. Participants will learn how to organize and deliver a half-day workshop that educates their clientele about available training resources; assessment tools for matching vehicle size to the operator; engineered design features that influence vehicle stability; strategies for establishing effective company policies; and the challenges of adhering to legal requirements, particularly those related to roadway use. Participants will also learn how this workshop was implemented in Ohio, and the new diverse audiences reached, including township trustees, parks and recreation departments, soil and water conservation districts, and OSHA governed workers in agronomy and construction industries. The program's primary focus is to reduce injuries and fatalities caused by these popular off-road vehicles. The training objectives are: 1) identify training resources for a variety of rider audiences, both work and recreational; 2) recognize engineered design features that affect the vehicles' stability and control, and apply proper ATV fit-testing techniques for ATV riders; 3) create operational guidelines to comply with age, size, and legal operation requirements, and 4) define roadway safety concerns associated with ATVs and UTVs. Participants will receive ready-to-use resources, including the training PowerPoint, handouts, videos, and a comprehensive list of workshop props, so they can confidently implement a similar program in their own communities. Authors: Shelly Dee Jepsen, Rob Leeds, Amanda Douridas, Wayne Dellinger
  1. Shelly Dee Jepsen Professor and State Specialist, Ag Safety and Health, The Ohio State University , Ohio, 43210
  2. Rob Leeds Assistant Professor and Extension Educator, The Ohio State University, Ohio, 43015
  3. Amanda Douridas Extension Educator, The Ohio State University, Ohio, 43140
  4. Wayne Dellinger Extension Educator, The Ohio State University, Ohio, 43040