According to Farmsafe Australia Chairman, Charles Armstrong, farm safety is something that we often take for granted, although no one wants to be injured or see others injured.
“As an industry we have been improving our safety record, with overall reductions in the number of farm injury deaths approaching 60 percent over the past two decades. However, we still need to do more,” Mr Armstrong said.
In 2017, tractors and quads bikes were the leading causes of on-farm fatalities.
Tragically, there were a total of 68 on-farm fatalities, higher than the previous year which recorded 63.
Nine of those 68 deaths involved a child aged under 15 years.
An additional 179 non-fatal on-farm injuries were recorded.
Farmsafe Australia is focusing on innovative ideas and practices to promote a safety culture on Australian farms.
“In a time of technological transformation in workplaces, farming too is undergoing a period of exciting technological change as we move into the digital landscape,” Mr Armstrong said.
“From digitised safety inductions, to design improvements making vehicles safer to operate, through to personal locator beacons that send safety alerts in areas with no mobile reception, the possibilities are endless.
“Innovation can complement practical steps for farm safety.
“Driving cultural change toward good safety practices also inspires approaches such as empowering rural women to take a leadership role in change.”
- Visit: www.farmsafe.org.au.