Farm-related injury claims in New Zealand have declined significantly in recent years, with farmers adopting practical changes aimed at reducing risks around machinery, livestock and other common farm hazards.
Farmers, industry representatives and government officials highlighted the progress during a July 3 farm visit in Leeston, hosted by mid-Canterbury arable farmer David Birkett. The event included the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), ACC Associate Minister Nicola Grigg, local farmers and Safer Farms.
Farm-related ACC claims fell to 17,322 last year, down from more than 25,000 in 2020. Safer Farms attributes the improvement to numerous small decisions farmers and rural workers are making each day to improve safety.
Lindy Nelson, a Wairarapa farmer and Safer Farms ambassador, said farmers are best positioned to identify workable safety improvements because they understand the conditions, equipment, livestock and people involved in their operations.
Examples of changes being adopted include installing crush protection devices, GPS-based rollover alert systems and gates designed to keep people separated from livestock. Farmers also are selecting vehicles based on the requirements of specific jobs and using technology to improve training and monitor potential hazards.
Other safety practices include reducing the amount of time workers spend in hazardous areas, identifying risks for contractors and visitors, pausing to assess difficult tasks and checking on employees and family members when workloads and pressure increase.
Safer Farms is working with farmers and industry through Farm Without Harm, a sector strategy focused on preventing avoidable injuries and other harm. The strategy addresses risks associated with fatigue, long working hours, isolation, vehicle operation, livestock handling, physical strain and exposure to chemicals, dust and other hazards.
Nelson said the decline in injury claims is encouraging but does not mean the farm safety challenge has been solved.
She said continued progress will depend on farmers sharing effective practices, learning from near misses and having access to safety tools that are practical for use on farms.
Safer Farms also views improved safety as beneficial beyond injury prevention. Safer operations can improve productivity, make farms easier to staff and help agricultural businesses remain resilient during difficult periods.
The effort ultimately is focused on reducing preventable harm and ensuring farmers, workers, family members, contractors and visitors can return home safely each day.
Source: Safer Farms, "Farmers leading the way as ACC farm injury claims fall sharply"