MORE than half of the ATV deaths last year happened on farms.

Analysis released by the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety today show 54 per cent of ATV deaths occurred on a farm.

And rollovers contributed to more than 60 per cent of all ATV deaths last year.

Centre director Dr Tony Lower said last year's toll of 18 was above the 10-year average.

"Not only is there a large number of deaths, there was also a further 78 injuries which were serious enough to result in press coverage," he said.

"These are often life-changing incidents such as spinal and brain injuries."

Dr Lower said there had been a 30 per cent jump in the reported number of non-fatal reports.

"We know from other sources that for each quad death, there is approximately 40 hospital admissions plus at least a further 40 emergency department presentations," he said.

"So we thinking the non-fatal cases reported in the media are simply the tip of the iceberg."

Meanwhile, there has already been a death this year from an ATV accident.

Late last week, a man was found death after his ATV rolled at Boothendarra, in Western Australia.