PLANNING for safety “in the same way that you plan for your crops or stock” will go a long way towards reducing injuries.
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This advice comes after a recent report by the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety identified a slight rise in the annual number of on‐farm injury deaths in 2017 compared to the previous year.
“Overall, there were 68 deaths reported in the Australian media last year,” Hon. Associate Professor Tony Lower said.
The study results show that quad bikes (11) and tractors (13) were the leading causes of death, making up over 40 per cent of the total.
Tragically, 9 of the fatal cases involved children aged under the age of 15, with the involvement of quads accounting for one‐third of these incidents.
The report also provides detail on a further 179 non‐fatal incidents that have been highlighted in the media, with quads again featuring as the main cause and being involved in 39 of the incidents.
“These non‐fatal cases are very important as often people will suffer significant injuries that have lifelong consequences,” Professor Lower said.
“These figures emphasize how important it is to have safety as a major priority in your farm business.
“Each farm injury death or injury is one too many, as all cases cause great suffering for family, friends and whole communities. Many more deaths and injuries can be prevented by using solutions which we know from the evidence work.
“We strongly encourage farmers to use other safer vehicles or if continuing to use a quad, then to ensure a crush protection device is fitted, wear a helmet and follow basic riding safety practices.
“For all farms but particularly those involved in grain production with harvest periods ahead, we urge the utmost attention to detail to ensure safety.”