Qld launches campaign to help cultivate farm safety

Queenslanders working or living on farms are being encouraged to share their farm safety tips as part of a social media campaign to cultivate better work environments. More than 30% of Queensland’s workplace deaths happen on farms, many of which could be prevented, according to state Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner.

To help improve farm safety, the government is calling on farmers and agricultural workers to post their safety knowledge, experience, photos and suggestions to Twitter via #safefarmqld and start conversations around safety with their workmates and family.

“Each year we lose too many farmers to incidents that could have been prevented, and sharing farm safety awareness tips using #safefarmqld might well mean creating a safer work environment for your family, friends and colleagues,” Furner said. The campaign is the latest in a set of farm safety initiatives currently being implemented across the state.

Already, a range of materials, including factsheets, brochures, short films and a calendar, are available via Workplace Health and Safety Queensland’s website to help small and medium businesses develop farm health and safety risk management systems, Queensland Minister for Industrial Relations Grace Grace said.

“Additionally, through the Rural Skills Adjustment Strategy, the government and TAFE Queensland are delivering programs that provide training in a range of areas including workplace health and safety, chemical handling and the use of chainsaws,” she added. The government hopes these initiatives will help ensure workers get home safe at the end of the day.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Nejron Photo