New data funded by AgriFutures Australia shows fatal accidents caused by tractors fell from 13 to nine and deaths involving quads fell from 11 to six in the 12 months from 2017 to 2018.
AgriFutures Australia Managing Director, John Harvey said the number of farming-related deaths remains alarming.
“While some progress has been made in specific areas, the overall numbers are telling us that more still needs to be done,” said Mr Harvey.
AgriFutures Australia funds research into enhancing farm health and safety under its National Rural Issues Program and is the lead agency for the newly-formed RDC-funded Rural Safety and Health Alliance (RSHA).
“We know the impact of accidents across Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries is significant. Australia’s RDCs have a renewed focus on reshaping, refocusing and regrouping to address the issue.
“The RSHA will clarify research, development and extension priorities based on risk, provide stronger accountability for funders and funding recipients to deliver a return on investment, support practical extension, and underpin clear and visible leadership across the agricultural sector,” said Mr Harvey.
The report, Non-intentional Farm Related Incidents in Australia, was developed using data collected by AgHealth Australia’s National Farm Injury Coronial Database, based at the University of Sydney. RSHA chair, Patrick Murphy pointed out that while there is a huge social cost associated with fatal on-farm injuries, there is also a significant economic impact which is estimated to run into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Mr Murphy says the cost includes factors such as loss of earnings, insurance payouts, work cover and police investigations, coronial costs, premature funeral costs, ambulance and hospital expenditure and loss of household contributions.
“While the figures are clearly shocking and the number of deaths in the sector needs to be urgently addressed, this research gives us a clear understanding of where the trouble spots are,” said Mr Murphy.
The research shows nearly 90% of farm-related accidents since 2001 involved males, with close to 50% of all reported accidents involving men over 50 years. Tractors, quads, motorbikes and horses accounted for almost half of all farm accidents.
