Reduction in Farm Deaths

Continued Reduction in Farm Injury Deaths

Research by the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety based on media coverage from 2011, indicates a continued reduction in on-farm injury deaths. “The year just passed has been the lowest on record for farm injury deaths” according to Dr Tony Lower the Centre Director. “Overall, there were 59 deaths reported in the Australian media and while this is a good news story, each farm injury death is one too many, as all individual cases cause great suffering for family, friends and whole communities.”

According to the report released by the Centre today, the 2011 information illustrates a 60% drop in the number of on-farm injury deaths when compared to the early 1990’s, where the average number of deaths was 146 per year. “This reduction over the past 20 years is fantastic news, however by our estimates, many more deaths can be prevented by adopting solutions which we know from the evidence work” said Dr Lower.

The study results show that quad bikes (18) were the leading cause and made up 31% of all deaths. Meanwhile tractors (10) were responsible for 17% of incidents. Tragically, seven of the fatal cases (11%) involved children aged 15yrs and under, with quad bikes (3) and drowning (2) being most frequently involved.

The report also provides detail on non-fatal incidents that have been highlighted in the media, with quad bikes again featuring as the main cause, being involved in 33% (27) of incidents. “These non-fatal cases are also important as often people will suffer significant injuries that have lifelong consequences”.

“This is the first time that tractors have not been the leading cause of death and really reflects ongoing design improvements centered on rollover protection. Significantly, while the number of deaths with every other cause is going down, quad bikes are going off the scale in the opposite direction. The 18 cases only represent on-farm incidents and we know there were a further 5 off-farm quad bike deaths, taking the national total to 23 deaths.”

“Historically, rollovers are responsible for half of all quad bike deaths and the evidence clearly points to crush protection devices on quad bikes as having a net benefit in reducing deaths and injury, yet the manufacturers continue to defy logic and put riders at increased risk by not supporting these steps.”

“Agriculture has the unenviable record of ranking only second behind road transport as Australia’s most dangerous industry. While reductions in deaths over the past 20 years are fantastic, there really is a need to fast-track improvements”.

“Improving health and safety has a human face, as each death or serious injury prevented means that individuals, families and whole communities don’t have to cope with and manage the negative social, emotional and financial consequences that arise from these events”.

A copy of the report and a wide range of materials that can assist those that work and live on farms to reduce risks to themselves, farm workers, family members and visitors, is available from the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety http://www.aghealth.org.au/index.php?id=111 or call 02 6752 8210 for further information.

2011 Farming Death and Serious Injury

Farm Death and Serious Injury 2011

Information sourced from the media between Jan – Sept 2011 indicate there has been at least 40 on-farm deaths in the year to date. Tragically there has also been a further three fatalities (two on quad bikes), since the start of October.

At this point of the year the leading agents of farm injury deaths have involved quad bikes (n=14 - with 19 in total including both on & off farm deaths) and tractors (n=5).

This report from the National Farm Injury Data Centre can be downloaded by following this link.

Quad bike riders at increased risk of death

Quad bike manufacturers place riders at increased risk of death

The continued resistance of quad bike manufacturers to the fitting of crush protection devices through their representative group the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), has been the focus of a special report on the ABC’s 7.30 Report this week.

Since 2001 there have been over 140 deaths from quad bikes. Already in 2011, there have been 15 deaths. “The continued head in the sand inaction of the FCAI in supporting the fitting of crush protection devices to reduce deaths and serious injuries, which is the one design feature that their own research has demonstrated as having some effectiveness, is nothing but shameful” according to Dr Tony Lower Director of the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (Sydney School of Medicine). “They have and continue to put people’s lives at risk”.

Data from the National Coroner’s Information System indicate that quad bike rollovers resulting in death from crush and asphyxiation injury make up about 50% of all cases. The industries own commissioned engineering research which it has had for many years, indicates that some form of crush protection devices do help to provide protection in the event of a rollover. “Despite this the FCAI continues to peddle information to its own retailers and the public that these devices cause death and injury, what they don’t say of course is that without fitting them the chances of death and injury are even higher”.

It is interesting that when presented with the evidence, many groups that are not typically aligned such as farmer organizations, unions, health and safety authorities, education institutions and researchers in the field, are in unison calling for these devices to be fitted. Many have also already fitted them.

The FCAI are on the record as saying that they will not even consider making representation to their parent companies on any quad bike design issues and that a ‘’…rollbar or crush protection device is probably not under development”. Even their most recent advertising campaign, which actively discourages fitment, is in stark contrast to what their own evidence indicates.

“In contrast to their public declarations that such advice is in the interests of rider safety, what this really does is to simply reinforce that safety is not a priority for the FCAI and manufacturers. Their approach seems quite bizarre in that they are actively campaigning against the one design feature that their own research illustrates will assist. One can only question how serious they are about their customer’s safety?” stated Dr Lower.

As a Victorian Coroner has indicated “Quad bikes are prone to rollover” and it has been speculated that the industries negative approach has significantly more to do with protecting the commercial interests of the manufacturers from potential litigation rather than the safety interests of riders.

“Having this information on hand but failing to accurately relay this to their own retailers and the public, means undoubtedly that the FCAI and manufacturers have blood on their hands in this issue” said Dr Lower.

“Its time the FCAI and manufacturers stopped obstructing the process, as all it will result in is more deaths and injuries from rollovers, many of which could potentially be prevented by fitting a crush protection device. We owe this to all the people that use these vehicles including our farmers, their families and agricultural workers.”

Further information on quad bike safety can be obtained from the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (02 6752 5210) or by visiting the following websites Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety www.aghealth.org.au or Farmsafe Australia www.farmsafe.org.au

Contact: Dr Tony Lower
Director ‐ Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety
Ph: (02) 6752 8210

The latest information on farm deaths and injuries

The Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety have released the lastest information on farm deaths and injuries reported in the Australian Print Media during 2010.

Australian print media provides an avenue to highlight the prevalence of farm related deaths and injuries. The process of media monitoring has been used by the National Farm Injury Data Centre NFIDC) since 2005 to assist in the collection of information on farm injury events (fatal and non‐fatal). This report focuses specifically on data involving on‐farm injury events reported in Australian print media in 2010.

To view the report please select the link below:

Farm Related Injuries Reported in the Australian Print Media 2010

Media Reports on Quad Bike Deaths/Injuries 2010

The Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety reports on quad bike deaths and injury in Australia during 2010.

This brief report looking at media coverage of quad bike related deaths and injuries in Australia throughout 2010 indicates that there were at least nine deaths and 43 serious injuries.

This is almost certainly an underestimate as not all incidents are reported in the media. Rollover events were responsible for 50% of the deaths and 36% of serious injuries.

The report can be downloaded from here.