Fran Avon is the CEO of Rural Doctors Foundation. She enjoys the opportunity to research and write articles on health issues.
5 minute read
Farm safety - startling statistics
What’s in this article
Farm safety statistics is sobering reading. The latest figures highlight the dangers of farming with a significant increase in fatalities and deaths over the past twelve months. We share the most common causes and provide tips to reduce the risk.
Farm safety statistics
Farm safety statistics are sobering, and the 2024 data from AgHealth Australia is no exception. The report revealed a sharp and deeply concerning rise in on-farm fatalities and serious injuries, with 72 lives lost and 133 serious injuries recorded in 2024—more than double the figures from 2023 .
Farm vehicles and mobile farm machinery were involved in the majority of these fatalities. Specifically, side-by-side vehicles (SSVs) were responsible for 14 deaths, quad bikes for 10 deaths, and tractors for 8 deaths . These incidents highlight the persistent dangers associated with common farming equipment.
Alarmingly, children under 15 years of age accounted for 9% of fatalities, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance and safety measures to protect young individuals on farms.
Age also plays a significant role in farm-related fatalities. Data indicates that 44% of fatalities were individuals aged over 60, a demographic that often continues to work on farms beyond the typical retirement age due to various financial and emotional reasons. This trend emphasizes the importance of tailored safety protocols for older farmers.
Dr. Adam Coltzau, a rural doctor from St George in South-Western Queensland and member of the Rural Doctors Foundation, stated, “The figures reflect what we see each week in the emergency department. Quad bikes are heavy, have a poor turning circle, and if they land on you, they can cause significant damage. Used in mustering operations, a quick turn can lead to hitting an ant hill or a log, causing the vehicle to flip and land on the rider.”
Reducing the risk
Farmers have made strides in implementing safety measures, moving away from outdated practices. Modern farmers are more likely to embrace safety to ensure they return home safely to their families each night. Every farmer can contribute to a culture of safety by integrating safer habits into daily routines: wearing helmets consistently, fastening seatbelts, checking for bystanders, and actively supervising children. Avoiding the circumvention of safety features, checking in on one another, maintaining a healthy diet, and ensuring adequate rest are also crucial.
Worker Health and Safety (WH&S) often involves common-sense practices, including training, safety induction courses for farm workers, and having an safety that complies with best practices.
“It is a terrible thing to have to speak to distressed family and friends to tell them their loved one has died.
I dread that part of my job.”
- Dr Adam Coltzau
Dr Coltzau emphasised, “I welcome the modern approach and am pleased that a key objective of the Rural Doctors Foundation is to raise awareness of the importance of farm safety to ensure farmers, their families, and workers are safe, and that rural communities do not have to experience the grief of a fatality or serious accident.
A death or serious injury is devastating to a small rural community, even more so when that death is potentially preventable with safe practice. It is a terrible thing to have to go into a room and speak to distressed family and friends to tell them their loved one has died. I dread that part of my job.” He added, “Simple things make a big difference. Personal protective equipment, a first aid kit in every vehicle, first aid and safety, dam fencing, child-safe play areas, and wearing helmets and seatbelts can prevent injuries and fatalities.”
Think safety and get home to your loved ones every night.
Having lived in the Northern Territory, Fran understands the challenges of access to health care for those living in remote communities. Fran is working to improve the health outcomes for those living far from major centres.