Lynda’s no-nonsense, common sense approach to health and safety has struck a chord with many locals and she manages to bust myths in a way farmers can relate to.
She grew up on a farm at Mauriceville, Wairarapa, and always knew the farming life was for her.
“The farming lifestyle for kids, the upbringing on a farm and the whole environment – you can’t compare it. We had pets, rough and tumble, mud and freedom. I always thought I would end up on a farm.”
After finishing school she did a Bachelor of Business Studies at Massey University and had a career in media sales for seven years.
Having met and married James, the couple moved to Tasmania for James to take up a job with Van Diemen’s Land Co, which was partly owned by the New Plymouth District Council and headed by Nicola Morris.
Lynda Balfour with husband James, Hugo, 2, and eight-month-old Charlie.
MYTH BUSTING – COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
• It’s targeting farmers – It’s not a Health and Safety on the Farm Act, Lynda says. It’s a Health and Safety at Work Act – it wouldn’t matter what job you do, a farmer, a doctor or a cleaner.
“Farmers think that because we are in what’s classed as a high-risk industry that it’s targeting us, but it’s not. The law is everywhere.”
She works alongside WorkSafe and uses their resources and directs people to their website, and safer farms website, as much as she can.
They are all about educating and working with people, not against them, which is a common feeling.
• It’s taking away common sense – This isn’t true, in fact it’s quite the opposite, Lynda says.
“The new law holds everyone in the workplace accountable at various levels. It holds common sense accountable in many ways. There’s no excuse now, common sense has to prevail.”
• Children can’t go on farms – A common misconception is that the new law takes away the family rural lifestyle.
“It’s not about not taking your kids onfarm. It’s about making sure they are safe. Fatalities 99.9% of the time are purely due to a lack of supervision.
"If you are having kids onfarm make sure they are in bright gear, have a helmet and make sure someone is responsible for supervising that child.”
