Australian Farmers' Hearing 1994-2008

The Australian Centre for Agriculutral Health and Safety in conjunction with Hunter New England Area Heath Service have recently published a new report looking at the health of Australian farmers' hearing.

Hearing loss through noise injury continues to be a problem for Australian farmers. Farm noise exposure and relatively poor historical use of hearing protection have been suggested as causes for hearing loss, although this has been difficult to demonstrate conclusively on audiogram.

In this report, exposure to firearms, workshop tools and tractor noise was associated with measurable hearing loss in the farmers examined in this study and is consistent with the few comparable studies that have been conducted. However, for the first time, this study has able to clearly demonstrate:

• Greater measurable hearing loss in ‘middle‐age’ farmers exposed to chainsaws, heavy machinery and cabined tractors, compared to unexposed groups.

• Greater measurable hearing loss in ‘younger farmers’ who never use personal hearing protection with firearms and un-cabined tractors, compared to those who always use hearing protection.

There has been measurable improvement in the hearing status of farmers and their use of hearing protection over the past decade. There has been a general decline in high risk exposure to chainsaws and un-cabined tractors (and a corresponding increase in use of cabined tractors) which offer greater protection to the hearing of operators. These findings provide context-specific evidence to support current recommendations given to farmers regarding farm noise exposure and the need for noise injury prevention strategies.

Promotional efforts to encourage the essential use of hearing protection with firearms, continues to be a hearing health promotion priority, especially for young farmers.

Farm Safety Week 19 - 23 July 2010

National Farm Safety Week is being held this year from 19 - 23 July 2010.  Farmsafe Australia has developed a package that the media and Community Safety Groups can use to promote farm safety.

National Farm Safety Week aims to raise awareness of farm safety issues in rural communities across Australia. The Farm Safety Week theme is “Safe Farming is Profitable”.  This theme continues to highlight the importance of business and industry working together to achieve the Farmsafe mission / vision statement of improving the well-being of Australian farmers through improved attention to health and safety.

The “Safe Farming is Profitable” theme is reflected in the membership of Farmsafe, by the wide range of work that is being conducted in research, education and extension of farm health and safety.

Farm Safety Week has been running successfully for the past nine years and has provided an opportunity for the Farmsafe network to utilise the media and address farm safety with a national focus.  This year, Farmsafe would like to continue its alliance with the media by putting farm safety in the minds of the community and policy makers.  Included in this package are several fact sheets and media releases that have been provided as a guide for Farmsafe Groups and the media and can be downloaded following this link.

Farm Safety - quad bikes

By Maria Tickle ABC Radio National

Wednesday, 21/07/2010

It's Farm Safety Week and one area the organisers Farmsafe Australia have in their sights is the use of 4-wheel motorbikes. They are known as quad bikes or ATVs, (all terrain vehicles).

Safety concerns associated with quad bike use on Australian farms raised their use during 2010 National Farm Safety Week.  Listen here to the ABC Radio National podcast of Bush Telegraph.

Farmers are the largest users of quad bikes because they are faster and much more mobile than tractors and utes. Unfortunately they can also be incredibly dangerous.

In the past 10 years 140 people have been killed riding quad bikes, 70 per cent of those on farms. In many fatal accidents the bike rolling over and landing on the rider is to blame.

Roll-over protection is available for quad bikes but why aren't these recommended by the motorcycle industry who say they can cause more injuries than they prevent, while Farmsafe say that more research needs to be done on Australian farms before they can recommend them.

More information: Farmsafe - http://www.farmsafe.org.au
Federal Chamber of Automative Industries - http://www.fcai.com.au/

In this report: John Temperley, executive officer, Farmsafe Australia; Rhys Griffiths, motorcycle manager, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries; Paul Rossi, peanut and sugarcane farmer, Aloomba, Far North Queensland;Tony Willsallen, listener; Carl Barron, teenage Heywire contributor.

Farmsafe Farmer of the Year 2009

Warakirri Agricultural Trusts - Wongan

Michael Neville, the manager of Wongan, Stoneleigh, Victoria , was recognised as the CGU Farmsafe Farmer of the Year 2009 for Warakirri Agriculutral Trusts efforts in practicing and promoting farm health and safety.

The Award was accepted by Michael Neville who manages the 3,100 ha property for Warrakirri Agricultural Trusts.  Wongan crops about 2,800 ha and employs two full-time permanent staff, casuals as required and approximately 12 contractors for peak seasonal work times.

Warakirri Agricultural Trusts’ application reflected their health and safety practice in their policies that outline the framework and procedures for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of persons within the Group and visitors to their properties.

“Their focus on eliminating the risks to the health, safety and welfare of persons at work using a peer driven health and safety committee, regularly reviewing farm hazards and risk, conducting an annual peer audits of all operations, and proactive reporting of health and safety to the Warakirri Board was reflected in their application,” said John Temperley, Executive Officer, Farmsafe Australia.

Michael Blakeney, Managing Director, Warakirri Agricultural Trusts was delighted to receive the award.

“Our mission statement confirms we will operate in a safe, sustainable manner for a rewarding investment.  In line with this, we believe work related injury or ill-health is unacceptable and Warakirri is committed to the identification and elimination of hazards on our farms.  This has directly improved our operational returns and therefore has been a positive investment in our people and our business,” he said.

“Being recognised by Farmsafe Australia is a great encouragement to all of us at Warakirri.  It is a positive reflection on the efforts of all involved, both past and present.  We as an industry need to continue to improve the level of safety in agriculture.”