National Farm Safety Week this week (to 24 July) has featured safety issues people can meet on the land from childhood to old age.
Federal Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, David Littleproud said farm safety was important across all age groups.
“While more than half of on-farm fatalities are people over 50, in the last 10 years around 15 per cent of fatal accidents have been kids under 15,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Improving farm safety is vital,” he said.
“Australian farmers make up only 2.6 per cent of Australia’s workforce, but they count for 21 per cent of workplace fatalities.”
Mr Littleproud said during National Farm Safety Week, there had been many opportunities for farmers to learn about potential safety risks.
“I encourage everyone to take five minutes to look at their practices and ask themselves whether there is a safer way to get the job done,” he said.
The Minister said the deadline for applications for the Government’s Improving Farm Safety Practices grants had been extended.
“These grants will help our agricultural industry and organisations deliver training and education to change the behaviour around farm safety and help reduce farm accidents,” he said.
“This is about getting people to come together and come up with projects and solutions to a nationwide issue,” Mr Littleproud said.
More information on the Improving Farm Safety Practices grants, and how to apply by the closing date of 11 August, can be accessed at this PS News link.
