The NSW Government has announced that it is committing $3.3 million in funding to improve safety on farms across the state.
Kevin Anderson, the Minister for Better Regulation, explained that farms continue to be an area of concern for the government and the state’s safety regulator, as they continue to be some of the most dangerous workplaces. The funding will be used to provide education and reduce the prevalence of high risk practises.
“This year we will be doubling down on quad bike safety by allocating $2.8 million to the Quad Bike Safety Improvement Program, meaning thousands of dollars in savings for farmers who choose safer equipment for day-to-day use,” Mr Anderson said.
The quad bike rebate program was introduced in 2016, and offers farmers rebates for new side-by-side vehicles and protection devices to prevent rollovers.
“This has been an incredibly successful program, and we want to make sure that farmers can continue to access these important rebates to keep themselves, their families, and their workers safe on the farm.”
“We’re even offering $500 to go towards purchasing a drone, which allows you to check on your stock, fences or dams without having to jump on a quad bike,” Mr Anderson said.
Mr Anderson also announced $500,000 per annum for the four year Farm Safety Advisory Program.
“This program has been a huge success in improving worker farm safety through education. This additional funding will allow SafeWork to continue to work alongside the agriculture industry to provide practical advice and education on a whole host of farm safety issues.”
Nationwide, 27 people have lost their lives working on farms since the year began, two more than at the same time last year.