UPDATE: THE Victorian Government is unlikely to ban children from riding ATVs on farms.

The Government said it was looking to improve quad bike safety but rejected Federal Government attempts to ban under-16s from using full-size ATVs

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"In the past 10 years there has been one death in Victoria involving someone under 16 operating a quad bike in a workplace,'' a spokeswoman said.

A distinction was made with deaths of children using ATVs for recreation or for farm work.

''The Victorian Government believes every death is a tragedy which is why we are always looking for new ways to improve quad bike safety,'' the spokeswoman said.

Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten today launched a push to make it illegal for under-16s to use full-size ATVs in workplaces.

And he wants farms included in the workplace ban.

"With around 20 per cent of ATV deaths involving children under 16, I am tasking Safe Work Australia to work with state and territory regulators to institute a ban on children under 16 operating a quad bike of full size in a workplace,'' Mr Shorten said.

Manufacturers and safety regulators already apply a "recommendation'' that children do not use ATVs, but Mr Shorten wants to institute a firm ban.

Farmers have also vowed to fight the push.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Peter Tuohey said a ban was "not going to fix the problem''.

He said ATVs were a part of everyday farm life and were regularly used by under-16s on family properties.

A Victorian Government spokeswoman said Mr Shorten had no jurisdiction to introduce such a ban in Victoria.

Policing such a ban would also cause problems.

A spokesman for Mr Shorten said Safe Work Australia would be working with state and territory work health and safety regulators to enforce the ban.

He siad officials would "ensure model regulations and the equivalent regulations that apply under the Victoria Occupational Health and Safety Act 2007 ban the use of full size quad bikes for children under the age of 16 in workplaces''.

The spokeswoman said Safe Work Australia would also work with state and territory regulators to enforce those bans.

VFF's Farmsafe Alliance manager Tim McKenzie, supports a legislated ban.

"I am for a ban. Children just don't have the strength to operate ATVs safely,'' Mr McKenzie said.

But he admitted it would be difficult to police such a ban on farms.

"I suppose it (enforcement) would simply have to rely on the fear factor,'' he said.

''If something were to go wrong on the farm involving an ATV and a child and the farmer was to be held liable, then perhaps we might see some change.''

United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Kerry Callow said she believed dairy farmers would be "very keen'' to keep the access rights to ATVs for their children.

"Many of them operate a family business where the ATV is just part of the machinery used every day,'' Mrs Callow said.