Agricultural health and safety in Australia.

Abstract

Farm injury is a major problem for agriculture in Australia. Agriculture is subject to rates of work-related deaths that are among the highest in Australia, while on-farm injuries result in between 20 and 60 presentations to rural hospital emergency departments per 100 farms per annum. Pervention of farm injury has been constrained by: (i) lack of relevant information regarding injury causation; (ii) lack of appropriate education and training in occupational health and safety; (iii) limited applicability of previous occupational health and safety legislation; and (iv) lack of the necessary management tools for farmers to manage risk Farmsafe Australia has developed a risk management approach to assist the farming community to reduce risk of injury and death and, to reduce the costs associated with the current high injury and death rate. The Farmsafe network is maintained to varying degrees at local. State and national levels. Farmsafe organisations are comprised of members from relevant agencies and other individuals with an interest and commitment to improved safety in agriculture; namely, farmers, women, government departments and unions. Moves have been made to develop joint farm injury prevention programs between health service providers and those whose role is primarily in prevention. The challenge remains, however, to develop more effective and sustainable partnerships between these groups to minimise the impact of farm injury for those who are injured and for rural communities.