A newly established Farm Safety Council is providing advice to the Victorian Government and agriculture sector on how to reduce injuries and deaths of people on farms.
The Council, established by the Minister for Agriculture, Jaclyn Symes, has provided guidance on activities which should be prioritised to make farms safer and change farm safety culture, ultimately reducing the number of deaths and injuries on farms.
In a statement, Ms Symes said the agricultural sector was overly represented in fatality statistics, making up less than three per cent of the Victorian workforce but more than 30 per cent of workplace deaths.
“We want our farms to be safe places for those who live, work or visit them,” Ms Symes said.
“The advice provided by the Farm Safety Council will guide industry and government on what can be done to make farms safer,” Ms Symes said.
“In the past five months, six people have died while working on a farm – that’s six people too many,” she said.
“It is critical that we find solutions to help keep people safe.”
Ms Symes said Victorians who lived on or interacted with a farm, including children, suppliers and contractors could also be at risk of an unsafe workplace.
“The Council creates links with other programs that focus on the safety, health and wellbeing of farmers and their families,” she said.
Ms Symes said the Council was made up of members from 10 different organisations, including Kidsafe Victoria; National Centre for Farmer Health; Victorian Agriculture Horticulture and Conservation Training Network; Australian Workers Union; Victorian Farmers Federation; United Workers Union; Worksafe Victoria; Department of Health and Human Services; Agriculture Victoria; and the Department of Education and Training.
