Sharp rise in farm injuries sparks urgent safety warning

The latest AgHealth Australia data has revealed a concerning increase in on-farm fatalities and serious injuries in 2024, which saw 72 deaths and 133 serious injuries reported.

AgHealth Australia’s Farm Safety Research Manager, Kerri-Lynn Peachy said the latest statistics are troubling and a stark reminder for the need to prioritise farm safety.

“There is still a lot we don’t know around the circumstances of each of these tragic incidents, but with figures for deaths and injuries more than doubling the 2023 numbers, we must heed the warning,” Ms Peachy said.

“While we actually expect some fluctuations in the figures annually, 72 is a lot higher than the last five-year average of 53 farm deaths,” Ms Peachey said.

“Quads and side by sides were the leading agents causing fatal injury in 2024, so I urge people to ensure they’re taking all the safety precautions available to them when operating these common farm vehicles.

“It’s clear from the data we must urgently improve our actions and attitudes, working in collaboration across the agriculture sector, to drive improvements in farm safety, which in turn will increase productivity.

“Even one death on farm is too many and we all have a role to play in bolstering farm safety as the sector aims for zero on-farm fatalities.”

AgriFutures Australia Senior Manager, Rural Futures Ulicia Raufers said the data, which is collected from a number of resources including media reports, is crucial to help the industry take swift action to address emerging safety concerns.

“We cannot afford to let this worrying upward trend of on-farm deaths and serious injuries continue,” Ms Raufers said.

“It is on each and every person living, working or visiting a farm to take farm safety seriously and turn these figures around.”

As part of the upcoming Ag Safety Data Net (ASDN) dashboard, real-time injury data will be available to highlight the number of incidents and their contributing factors. This information can help inform and engage farmers, farm workers, and industry stakeholders to emphasise collective responsibility for farm safety.

The new ASDN platform will for the first time report at industry, regional, state and national levels.

Chair of Farmsafe Australia, Felicity Richards emphasised the importance of data and evidence in shaping educational resources and engagement initiatives.

“2024 has been a shockingly tragic year and we need to draw a line in the sand as an industry to ensure the safety of our people,” said Ms Richards.

“By having access to this data and evidence, through the ASDN, we will be better equipped to shape our educational resources and engagement initiatives in ways that directly address the challenges our farmers are currently facing.

“We know that every statistic we review is more than just a number—every stat carries a personal story and represents a human life, a family and a community affected by the risks of agricultural work.

“Our challenge is to transform those numbers into real-life safety awareness messages that resonate deeply and motivate our people to change their attitudes and behaviours towards safer practices, ensuring that we all return home safely every day.”

AgHealth Australia has been leading research into deaths and injuries on farm since 2004, providing the most comprehensive evidence on which to build prevention approaches to enhance the safety and wellbeing of people in Australian agriculture.

The annual report, prepared by AgHealth Australia and funded by AgriFutures Australia is available here.

Supporting facts

• Side by Sides were involved in 14 deaths up from four in 2023.
• Quad bikes were involved in 10 deaths up from five in 2023.
• Tractors were involved in eight deaths up from five in 2023.
• QLD saw the largest spike in serious injuries going from 11 to 61.
• More than 75% of injuries reported on farm occurred in QLD and NSW.