SafeWork NSW surveys farm safety

As part of a three-year safety project with the sheep and beef cattle farming industry, SafeWork NSW will visit farms across the state to see how the situation is improving.

With 1514 injuries sustained during the three years to July 2010, the aim of the project is to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses and improve injury management. The injuries cost $41 million under the NSW workers compensation scheme.

SafeWork NSW has provided $18 million in safety rebates, which led to more than $30 million in safety improvements on farms across the state. The organisation will examine how farmers have used the program to develop a stronger approach to the management of health and safety.

As well as visits, SafeWork NSW will survey 300 farmers to better understand their awareness of major safety issues and get their ideas on other ways to improve farm safety.

“SafeWork NSW works with the state’s highest risk industries to improve work health and safety and return to work outcomes,” said Peter Dunphy, executive director of SafeWork NSW.

“Farmers and farm workers have proven that they are well placed to develop work health and safety solutions and we want to learn how the project has helped them, as well as connect them with other products and services that can help them improve safety.”

During the visits, SafeWork also hopes to identify a number of real-life examples of farms that have made safety improvements which have made the farm more efficient and improved its competitiveness.

Farmers that receive a visit may be eligible for a rebate of up to $500 through SafeWork’s Small Business Rebate Program, which can be used to purchase and install safety improvements. Farmers may also be eligible for rebates of up to $500 towards the purchase of compliant helmets, operator protective devices, training courses or the purchase of a safer vehicle through the NSW Quad Bike Safety Improvement Program.

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