It found 60 to 100 agricultural workers die annually from exposure to work-related airborne substances.
In 2010 there were 97 deaths and 670 people were hospitalised after being exposed to airborne substances while at work.
WorkSafe NZ agriculture programme manager Al McCone said that was an unexpected finding of an in-depth report that analysed the causes and trends of workplace death and injury.
“That was quite a bit of a shock,” he said.
The causes were exposure to pesticides, fertilisers, dust and engine exhaust fumes with leptospirosis a growing issue.
“It’s a bit like asbestos. It might get you next week or in 50 years time.”
He acknowledged other health factors could be at play in those illnesses but studies showed 64% of rural workers did not wear protective gear.
“It may not affect someone’s health today but it may affect them in 20 years time.
“It’s hard to tell someone when it’s not visible.”
McCone said his staff would talk to chemical manufacturers, users and makers of safety equipment to find solutions.
Between 2013 and 2015 there were 59 agricultural fatalities of which age leading to impairment and poor judgement and vehicles were involved in 45 deaths as the main causes.
But last year the number of deaths fell two to 18 and while it was too early to say if it was a trend McCone was optimistic.
“We’re pretty sure there is a downward trend.”
He was confident the goal of a 25% reduction in agricultural deaths and serious harm by 2020 was achievable.
The key was addressing the underlying behaviour and attitudes of farm staff and that came down to the owners and managers who determined the workplace culture.
“If the boss wants something to happen, it will happen.”
The 22,000 claims a year to the Accident Compensation Corporation for farm-related injuries equated to claims from one farm in three.
The other tactic was to promote health and safety as a strategic business decision that had productivity benefits.
Two years ago he doubted the goal of a 25% reduction in farm death and serious harm would have been possible but his confidence stemmed from a shift in farmers’ attitude to health and safety and WorkSafe inspectors.
“I was asking ‘why bother?’ given the amount of opprobrium and so much negativity.
“I think the thing that made me say ‘why bother’ wasn’t that farmers did not believe it but that no one was standing up and it was left to WorkSafe to front it.
“The real change occurred when Beef + Lamb NZ, DairyNZ, Federated Farmers and a whole lot farmers started to say ‘We’ve got to front this, it’s our responsibility’.”
Increasing numbers of farmers were requesting visits from inspectors and McCone said most reports were that farmers more or less had the right systems and structures in place.
“They’re not looking at us and saying ‘we don’t have to do it,’ they’re looking at us and saying ‘here is how we can do it’.”
Other data from the environment report revealed injuries among males resulting in more than a week off work, were double that of females and peaked in the 20-24 and over 50 age groups.
In the younger group, the likely cause was a lack of experience combined with lower impulse control.
In the older age group, the cause was likely to be in part due to the impact of age and poor health.
Social factors such as on-the-job drug use, poor telecommunication services and low literacy levels magnified rural health and safety issues.
“The challenges of access to rural health services, mental health issues and rural suicide also link to wider health and safety concerns within the industry,” the report stated.
