Real time tracking of on-farm fatalities and injuries across Australia now available

The first real-time dashboard for tracking on-farm fatalities and injuries has launched, giving journalists, farm safety advocates, researchers and the farming community early insights into where and how agricultural incidents are occurring.

Developed by AgHealth Australia as part of the Ag Safety Data Net project, the Rural Media Farm Injury Dashboard draws on live media reports to give timely snapshots of incidents occurring on-farm, before official coronial or workers compensation data become available. The Dashboard has been funded by the Rural Safety and Health Alliance (RSHA), a partnership of seven Rural Research and Development Corporations.

“This is a critical step forward in improving farm safety,” said Kerri-Lynn Peachey, a broadacre farmer in NSW and member of the AgHealth research team.

“By providing real-time insights into the types of incidents occurring on farms, we can better understand the risks and work together to prevent future injuries and fatalities in a timely manner. It’s a tool for awareness, education and ultimately, saving lives.

“As a farmer myself, I know how quickly things can go wrong.

“Farm injuries aren’t just a cost; they also result in a loss of production, impacting individuals, farm operations and rural communities across Australia. The Dashboard’s charts and heatmaps will help to inform farm safety initiatives by highlighting current risks and contributing factors,” Kerri-Lynn said.

The Dashboard allows users to customise infographics and heatmaps by date, injury type, age group, industry sector and location – making it a valuable tool for policy makers, industry bodies and community safety campaigns.

The tool tracks incidents from 2020 onwards, offering a broader view of trends over time. While data is predominantly based on media reports and is subject to change, it provides an early warning system that complements coronial and workers compensation reporting.

The Rural Safety & Health Alliance is a collaboration of seven Rural Research and Development Corporations – AgriFutures Australia, Australian Eggs, Australian Pork Ltd, Australian Wool Innovation, Cotton Research & Development Corporation, Dairy Australia and Grains Research & Development Corporation – that coinvest in research to improve safety and health on Australian farms. The Ag Safety Data Net is one of its key projects, administered by AgriFutures Australia and delivered by AgHealth Australia.

Access the free dashboard online here

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