THIS week is National Farm Safety Week across the country, with the theme being chosen as 'Recipe for Averting Disaster'.
This will focus on a number of intangible risks and hazards such as fatigue, complacency, the blurred line between the home and work environment, labour shortages and the aging workforce, wellbeing and many other issues that combine to make Australian farms one of the most dangerous work environments.
Farmsafe Australia will be running a national campaign to raise awareness of these risks and hazards.
In 2021 there were 46 fatalities on Australian farms.
This is 12 fewer lives lost when compared to both 2019 and 2020 and is a significant step forward for the industry.
Latest Stories
But despite this step, 46 lost farmers is still a tragedy.
As the next step to reducing this number, Farmsafe Australia are urging farmers to consider many of the intangible factors that lead to farm workplace injuries and fatalities.
Everyday farmers across Australia work in high–risk environments where serious injury and death are a primary concern.
Felicity Richards, chairperson at Farmsafe Australia, applauds the progress the Australian farming industry has made towards safety; however, she believes there is more to be done to foster an industry wide culture that prioritises and champions safety above all else.
"It's so important that we continue to encourage open conversation and education around safety on farms," she said.
"Particularly around those often hard to measure factors such as complacency or fatigue which contribute heavily to workplace incidents.
"Experienced farmers often think that if they are yet to experience a farm related injury that they never will.
"It's time to change this narrative and encourage farmers of all experience levels to prioritise their safety."
Having open conversations and reminding farmers that harm can be more than physical is necessary to change our national approach to farm safety.
"There are so many resources available to farmers and technology is constantly developing to improve the safety of farms," Ms Richards said.
"Continuing safety education and sparking conversations around lesser–known areas of safety is essential in continuing to combat farm tragedies.
"Every time we avoid and injury or fatality, we can celebrate the positives.
"Every farmer understands the unique risks that come with working on their own farm.
"Taking one extra moment to weigh up factors such as fatigue, mental health or complacency is a first step towards creating a safer environment."
To find out more about safety resources and how to keep yourself and your family safe, visit: farmsafe.org.au.
