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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. Australian print and online media monitoring provide avenues to highlight the prevalence of farm injury in a timely manner.

During the period 1 January to 30 June 2021, there were 20 on-farm deaths reported. In the corresponding period for 2020, there were 33 cases. 

An additional 70 non-fatal on-farm injury events were reported in Australian media for the current reporting period. Eight (11.4%) of the injury events involved children aged under 15 years. Quads (n=31) were the leading cause of injury. These incidents were followed by tractors (n=8) and horses (n=6). These three agents (n=45) accounted for almost 65% of all incidents reported. More than 70% of the incidents occurred in Queensland.

Since 2001, 1,604 people have lost their life on a farm due to non-intentional injury in Australia. Of these, 1,415 cases (88%) have been finalised and “closed” by the coroner. Persons in the 50+ years category (n=813) accounted for 51% of all reported incidents. Children under 15 years were present in 231 cases (14.4%). Males were involved in 1,415 cases (88%). Tractors (n=257) and quads (n=197) are the leading agents causing fatal injury since 2001.