Australian Farmers' Hearing 1994-2008
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Farm Safety Facts
Farm Safety Facts
On-farm injury is a major problem for the agriculture and horticulture industries in Australia.
Deaths
Non-intentional farm injury deaths
Around 90 persons die from non-intentional injury on Australian farms each year. These deaths are of workers, bystanders to work and others and occur in a range of circumstances on farms of different agricultural enterprises.
Road traffic accident deaths of farmers
Deaths of farmers and farm workers on roads appear to be an important cause of premature loss of life for this population. The search for preventable factors has begun with reporting of behavioural factors such as seat belt use and alcohol intoxication being identified as significant contributors to road traffic deaths.
Between 300 and 350 traumatic deaths of male farmers and farm workers from all causes (non-intentional and intentional) occur each year across Australia.
Number of non-intentional and intentional injury deaths of farm managers and workers. Australia 1990-1998.
Workers compensation claims
In 2007/ 08 there were 4,260 workers compensation claims in the agriculture and horticulture industries. This does not include claims for workers in services to agriculture (that includes shearers and other contract workers) for which there are a further 830 claims per year. Claims rates for Agriculture and Services to Agriculture are amongst the highest of any industry. The sheep shearing industries are associated with very high rates of claims and costs.
Workers’ compensation claims rates of selected Australian industries 1997/ 98 to 2007/ 08 (preliminary data) per 1000 employees
Safe Work Australia 2010.
Workers’ compensation claims rates (per 1000 employees) in Agriculture; Services to Agriculture, Hunting and Trapping; and Commercial fishing 1997/ 98 to 2006/ 07
Australia. Safe Work Australia, 2010.
Source: Safe Work Australia, 2010 NOSI Database.
Admissions to hospital for farm injury
Examination of hospitals data indicates the importance of motorcycles, quad bikes, vehicles, horses, farm machinery and animals as agents of farm injury.
Hospitals data has been used to profile specific farm injury problems – causes of child farm injury admissions to hospitals, age/ sex characteristics of persons admitted with farm injury associated with specific agents of injury – farm machinery, “animals ridden” (horses) and motorcycles.
Specific reports
Go to National Farm Injury Data Centre, Safe Work Australia and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation web pages for more information.