It is sobering to think that between 2010 and 2020, 15 per cent of fatalities that occurred on Australian farms were children aged under 15.
We work in the best industry in Australia – and indeed the world – but one cannot help but feel we are somewhat exposed in the area of safety.
There is plenty of room for improvement.
Last week’s National Farm Safety Week, delivered by Farmsafe Australia, was a chance for everyone working in primary industries to reflect on their own work health and safety practices and identify areas for improvement.
As someone who is raising a young daughter on a rural property, I take safety very seriously.
I want her to experience the same joy I did growing up on a farm, but I also want to instil the importance of safety into her.
National Farm Safety Week’s theme of ‘in safe hands’ is a pertinent one.
The campaign personalises safety by sharing the stories of six different farming businesses from across the country.
These farmers share how they navigate the challenges of certain work, health and safety issues on their properties.
Each farmer has practical ways of embedding safety practices into their everyday workplace culture.
Being ‘in safe hands’ meant something deeply personal, yet universal, to all the farmers involved. It meant that they were able to come home to their families each night.
The launch of the campaign coincided with the release of the 2024 Safer Farms Report, which has underscored the continual need for awareness raising and information sharing.
Although there was a significant decrease of 44pc in on-farm fatalities in 2023, the first six months of 2024 have been tragic with 30 farmers already losing their life.
Farmsafe Australia chair Felicity Richards rightly pointed out that while the reduction in on-farm fatalities is cause for celebration, the alarming rise in fatalities in the first six months of this year reminds us that our work is far from over.
We must continue to commit to building safer cultures across our workforce to protect the lives of those who live and work on Australian farms.
Instilling the importance of safety to the next generation of farmers has never been more important.
That is why PPSA delivered the Farm Safety For Kids project, part of which was developing sector-specific resources to educate kids who live on or visit a farm about safety.
These resources are aimed at reducing the barriers for teachers and parents to deliver farm safety lessons in a fun and interactive way including seven videos.
In addition to the videos, there were work- shops, teacher professional development sessions and on-farm excursions.
Importantly, the project delivered key thought-provoking messages from the voice of kids, equipping a new generation of engaged and aware children to understand the inherent risks associated with food and fibre production and the ways in which those risks can be mitigated.
Farm Safety Week encourages parents, caregivers, and the farming community to embrace the positive aspects of growing up on the farm while prioritising active supervision.
By doing so, we can ensure that every child’s experience is not only joyful and filled with valuable life lessons, but also safe.
This column was written by PPSA CEO Caroline Rhodes and originally appeared in the 25 July 2024 edition of Stock Journal. Caroline Rhodes is also a board member of Farmsafe Australia.
