Farm safety focus as study reveals deaths

That's the stark message from researchers who have found farm accidents involving vehicles, machinery, dams and tree felling are among the leading causes of death on properties across Australia.

The researchers used national coronial data to examine trends of unintentional farm deaths from 2001 to 2020, identifying 1584 fatalities, or roughly 79 per year.

The study, published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health, found two-thirds were work-related. Injuries were largely caused by accidents on quad bikes and utes, and machinery like tractors and forklifts.

Farm structures, including dams and powerlines, were causes of 11 per cent of fatal injuries, with environmental factors like tree felling behind seven per cent.

Presenting the findings at the National Rural Health Alliance's conference in Brisbane last week, researcher Kerri-Lynn Peachey said it's important to make sure farmers come home.

"You may see bumper stickers that state 'no farms, no food' but think about 'no farmer, no farm'," she said.

Ms Peachey, from Sydney University's school of rural health, said prevention measures like helmets, rollover safety structures on tractors, pool fencing, and banning children from riding quad bikes would help reduce much of the burden.

The study also found farmers over 55 years of age were involved in 58 per cent of all work-related incidents and were significantly more likely to die than their younger colleagues.

The Northern Territory had the largest rate of fatal farm injuries, while South Australia had the lowest.

While the figures revealed a small reduction in farm fatalities, there is a need to re-focus on farm safety, especially among the older generation, the study's authors said.

"Failure to directly address these issues will result in little to no improvement in the health and safety record for the agricultural sector, which has significant impacts on individuals, families, businesses and whole communities."

Australian Associated Press