Farm safety - startling statistics

Farm safety statistics

Farm safety statistics are sobering reading and the 2023 report from FarmSafe on deaths and injuries is no exception.  The report showed that 16% of deaths due to farm injury are caused by quad bikes and this is equalled by tractor deaths. Injury by quad bikes make up 29% of accidents. One of the most disturbing is that 9% of fatalities are of of children under 15 years of age. The personal impact of farm accidents is reflected in the experience faced by our doctors in rural hospitals.

If you factor in that at 60 years of age is often when those in other industries start to consider retirement, with the average age of retirement at 64.8 (according to the ABS in 2022) and pension services kicking in at 67. However, this retirement trend is rarely seen on the farm and there are a number of reasons; from financial to emotional.  This has resulted in 44% of fatalities being those aged over 60. 

Dr Adam Coltzau, a rural doctor from St George in South-Western Queensland and member of Rural Doctors Foundation, said 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 will do a lot of damage. Used in mustering operations, you turn quickly and hit an ant hill, or a log and they flip and end up on top of you”.

Reducing the risk 

Farmers have come a long way in terms of introducing safety measures on farms, the way things used to be done are a thing of the past. Modern day farmers are more likely to embrace safety to ensure they arrive home safe to their families at night. Every farmer can do their part to embed safety culture by focussing on integrating safer habits into their daily routines; put the helmet on every time, clip the seatbelt across you, check for bystanders and actively supervise children. Don’t circumvent safety features, check in on each other, eat healthy foods and  get some rest! 

A lot of OH&S is common sense stuff – and a lot of modern practice is about training, safety induction courses for farm workers and having a OH&S plan which is best practice compliant.

Dr Coltzau said, “he welcomed the modern approach and was pleased that a key objective of 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”. Dr Coltzau said “Simple things make a big difference. Personal protective equipment, a first aid kit in every vehicle, first aid and OHS training, dam fencing, child safe play areas, and wearing of helmets and seat belts prevent injury and fatalities.

Think safety and get home to your loved ones every night.