Holiday-goers visiting rural properties across the Christmas and New Year period are being reminded to follow the safety rules of property owners and remember that most farms are also workplaces.
There are many dangers on farms, from silos, chemicals and workshops, to animals, quad bikes, electrical and water hazards.
SafeWork SA Executive Director Martyn Campbell said for many farmers, the workplace and home life can merge together.
‘That’s why it is crucial for farmers to talk about safety with workers and family,’ he said.
‘This extends to visitors during holidays periods.
‘Open communication about hazards and risks can save lives and should become part of the daily routine of every farming business.’
Safe Work Australia last month released its workplace fatality statistics for 2021. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/key-work-health-and-safety-statistics-australia-2022
Over the five-year period from 2017 to 2021, there were 163 worker fatalities in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry, representing 18 per cent of all worker deaths nationally.
This included 33 agriculture deaths in 2021, down from 46 the previous year, which despite heading in the right direction, is too many lives lost.
The agriculture industry’s fatality rate of 10.4 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2021 was the highest, a staggering eight times the average across all industries of 1.3 deaths per 100,000 workers.
Almost three quarters of agriculture deaths from 2017 to 2021 involved a vehicle.
Since 2011, 23 children have been killed in quad bike incidents in Australia.
‘Agriculture is one of the state’s most dangerous industries and these risks are further increased during harvest and the holiday period,’ Mr Campbell said.
‘Everyone enjoys the chance to take some time off over Christmas, so it is vital that we stay safe in the busy weeks before the break.’
Visit our Agriculture page for more farm safety tips.
