Farming remains one of Victoria’s most dangerous occupations, with agricultural industries again over-represented in the state’s workplace fatality statistics.
While farmers make up around 2 per cent of the population of workers, they account for close to 14 per cent of annual workplace fatalities.
Over the last three years, 24 workers have been killed in farming accidents. More than 400 workers have been seriously injured in the last year, accounting for around eight workers a week lodging workers compensation claims.
The fatalities are largely the result of incidents involving vehicles – four out of five are associated with farm vehicles.
The state’s safety regulator is launching a six-week advertising blitz to raise awareness of farm safety, focusing on the family ties that come with farming.
Julie Nielsen, WorkSafe Executive Director of Health and Safety, explained that the campaign works to focus on the fact that experience alone won’t prevent workplace accidents on farms.
“Farmers know their land and machinery like the back of their hand, but that doesn’t make you bulletproof,” she said.
“It might be easy to think that a tragic incident will never happen on your farm, but if safety is not your top priority then the chances are high that it will.
“It might be easy to think that a tragic incident will never happen on your farm, but if safety is not your top priority then the chances are high that it will.
“Farmers owe it to themselves, their families, their workers and communities to always keep safety front of mind and make it a permanent part of their daily life.”
The full campaign can be found via WorkSafe Victoria.