Agriculture makes up just two per cent of Victoria’s workforce, but regularly accounts for more than 10 per cent of all workplace deaths.
Since 2021, 33 people have lost their lives in agricultural workplaces, including one this year.
WorkSafe has also accepted 2245 workplace injury claims from agriculture workers in the same period.
WorkSafe executive director of health and safety Sam Jenkin said farmers should be supported to take safety action in ways that work for them.
“Farmers know their land, their vehicles and their teams better than anyone,” Mr Jenkin said.
“We are here to give them the tools and confidence to make safety a routine part of farm life.”
“Farming is a tough job, but it doesn’t have to be a deadly one.
Scott Arnold’s family farm in the Rupanyup North and Minyip district has been around for more than 100 years.
Growing crops and raising sheep alongside his family has given him a grounded motivation for prioritising safety — protecting each other and everything they’ve built.
But Mr Arnold said the best part is knowing that he’s protecting his family and employees.
“If something happened to me, it’d be my wife Stacey and my two girls who are left behind,” he said.
“And we’ve got Lachie working here who’s got a young family.
“The thought of making that phone call and explaining what’s happened drove me to make changes.”
Mr Arnold is sharing his story as part of WorkSafe’s powerful It’s never you, until it is campaign.
For more information and support, go to: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/agriculture
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