Data shows positive farm safety trend

WFI insurance reports liability claims have fallen across most segments.

Falls from heights were down 75 per cent, and impact injuries reduced by 30 per cent.

Farm collisions have fallen seven per cent, with an overall 23 per cent reduction from four years ago.

WFI Insurance executive general manager Andrew Beer said 1820 lives had been lost on Australian farms since 2001 and farming represents over one third of all national workplace deaths.

“We see first-hand the adverse outcomes of when things go wrong on farms, where events can unfold quickly and often in remote locations,” Mr Beer said.

Many of the accidents we see are preventable, which can make it even more heartbreaking.

“While our data shows a reduction in incidents across some agricultural sectors over the past year, we have also seen horrific life-changing injuries, leaving devastation that extends far beyond the farm gate.”

The top four areas for farming incidents were:

WFI claims data from the past five years shows knees have been the leading bodily location for injuries, followed by lower back and shoulders.

Data highlights that key risk areas continue to centre around heavy machinery, large animals, and exposure to severe weather events, with farm property damage claims stemming from natural peril events increasing by 32 per cent over the past year.

Fatigue and loss of concentration were frequently reported as contributing factors to machinery incidents, in addition to omitting important safety steps to execute tasks more rapidly.

Aligned with the publication of the Safer Farms 2024 Report, WFI is releasing a special episode of its Good People to Know podcast, featuring Farmsafe Australia chair Felicity Richards who talks through the report’s findings, and how she is leading the charge to improve safety habits on farms.