Farms and other rural workplaces have many potential hazards. These hazards may cause harm to the farmers themselves, their families, their employees, their contractors, and other farm visitors. For many farmers, their workplace is also their home.
What is the impact of injuries?
Agriculture is a major part of New Zealand’s economy employing around 100,000 people. ACC received 32,000 injury claims which cost the industry over $75 million in the 2007/2008 financial year.
Unless we improve the situation, statistics indicate that:
- 20 agricultural workers will lose their lives in the workplace during the year. That’s one death every 18 days
- every day 13 people will be seriously injured on farms
- each year one in seven claims to ACC will be for injuries sustained by farmers, their employees, contractors or visitors.
Injuries common to the agriculture industry include soft tissue injuries, fractures and noise induced hearing loss. More and more injuries in the agriculture industry are being attributed to noise induced hearing loss. See Noise induced hearing loss for further information.
Common causes of injuries include being struck by animals, slips, trips and falls, and loss of control of vehicles. Fatal injuries are most often associated with tractors and ATVs.
Contact agriculture@acc.co.nz for further information on the number and cost of the most common injuries in the agriculture sector.
What can I do to reduce injuries?
Make your workplace safer with ACC’s comprehensive safety information for managing hazards commonly found in your industry. Use the resources listed on this page, or see On the farm for further information.
Businesses within the agriculture industry may qualify for up to 10% discount off their levies by demonstrating safe working practices. See ACC Workplace Safety Discounts for further information.
WorkSafe programme
Use ACC’s key work safety programmes to establish health and safety systems and help keep your business injury-free. For further information see:
What other help is available?
We have a range of tools and resources in our Publications page to help you identify and manage hazards typical to your workplace.
Training
The training resource package ‘Reducing injuries in the rural environment’ has been developed specifically for agricultural and horticultural training institutions.
- Reducing injuries in the rural environment – instructor’s resource (PDF4.4M)
- How to reduce injuries in the rural environment – a resource for trainees (PDF341K)
Agriculture Health and Safety Council
To request copies of minutes of the Agricultural Health and Safety Council meetings please email agriculture@acc.co.nz.
Related websites
Use these external links to find more information:
New Zealand
- Rural Source – lists agriculture and horticulture resources suitable for secondary schools
- Department of Labour – provides New Zealand shearing industry best practice guidelines
- FarmSafe – provides unit standard short courses in agricultural safety topics
- Agriculture ITO – the Industry Training Organisation for the farming industry
- Federated Farmers of New Zealand – New Zealand's leading rural sector organisation
- Telford Rural Polytechnic – provides unit standard short courses in agricultural safety topics
- GrowSafe – provides unit standard short courses in agricultural safety topics
- Horticulture New Zealand – represents 7,000 commercial fruit and vegetable growers
- Rural Women New Zealand
- Biosecurity New Zealand – leads New Zealand's biosecurity efforts, including animal welfare
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – contributes to the prosperity of New Zealand through its focus on land-based industries and rural communities
- Massey University – rural studies programmes
- Otago University – research on farm occupational injury
International
- The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is a national organisation dedicated to health and safety in agriculture in Canada
- Farmsafe WA (Western Australia) – aims to protect farming families and workers
- The Western Australian Farmers Federation – Western Australia’s largest rural lobby group
- The Health and Safety Executive – responsible for health and safety regulation in Great Britain
- The National Safety Council (USA) – agricultural safety
Published: 11June2010