In the first six months of 2021 there were 20 fatal accidents, compared to 58 for the whole of 2020, according to Farmsafe Australia.
While the numbers are comparatively down, the report also discovered that one in 10 fatalities and injuries in the first six months of 2021 involved children under the age of 15.
The annual report produced by Farmsafe Australia — a not-for-profit body working with farmers to improve their awareness of hazards while educating them on best practice ways to mitigate risks — found there were misconceptions underpinning farmer safety, health and well-being.
Based on 215 interviews with Australian farmers across eight agricultural sectors, Farmsafe Australia executive officer Stevi Howdle said this year’s report focused on digging deeper into farmers’ understanding of their own health and safety decision-making, while dispelling the safety myths circulating in rural communities.
Although Australian farmers identified they are most concerned about animal handling (47 per cent) and operating machinery (40 per cent) as their top safety issues on their farms, the report reaffirmed that quadbikes (21 per cent) and tractors (20 pre cent) remained the leading causes of fatalities in the past 18 months.
In 2020, nearly 60 per cent of farming injuries occurred in Queensland, while males accounted for more than four in five (82 per cent) of the fatalities on farms.
Ms Howdle said there was a common misconception that more knowledgeable and experienced farmers equalled safer farmers.
“In reality, those who are older than 45 years of age accounted for nearly two thirds (62 per cent) of fatalities.
“Having broad agricultural experience does not necessarily correlate to a ‘safety at all times’ mentality on farms,” Ms Howdle said.
“Our goal is to ensure that when fatigue and stress sets in, farmers do not get complacent and accidently put themselves, their loved ones or their colleagues at risk.
“These heartbreaking figures have not seen a reduction in more than a decade, and we want to positively shift farming culture, to prioritise a ‘safety-first’ mindset so that all farmers, whether they are aged 2 or 92, are safe at all times,” Ms Howdle said.
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