Friday, March 29, 2024

PULPIT: Make farm safety a summer focus

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While most New Zealanders are looking forward to the Christmas break there are some jobs where there’s always work to be done like those in hospitals, the emergency services and on farms.
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Tragically, those professions too often become connected because many tragic and life-changing accidents happen in agricultural workplaces.

Summer’s a busy time on farms and it’s also among the most hazardous periods. 

Almost 550 farmers suffered injuries serious enough to require at least a week off work last summer (December 2017-February 2018) while there were three fatalities on farms. 

Vehicles and machinery loomed large among the causes.

Safety should be a focus on farms for every job, every day but with Christmas and its related distractions approaching that focus needs to stay strong.

More farmers are stepping up to the plate regarding health and safety. 

Fewer farmers died last year than in any year since 2009 and in 2017 deaths were almost half of those of the previous four years. 

The number of people injured on farms and needing more than a week off work is still way too high but also declining. 

I was running a health and safety workshop for rural merchants recently and one of the participants said farmers are increasingly having a talk with visitors about risks and how they should be managed.

Nothing onerous but we are finding that at more farms they are expected to sign in and are given a brief rundown on the risks and the farm’s rules and safety expectations. These farmers are moving past safety compliance and see how it genuinely contributes to making their farm a safer work environment for everyone.

Summer, in general, and Christmas, in particular, mean more visitors on farms. More friends, more family and more children – many of whom might not be familiar with the farm. Tragically, a number of children die on farms every year. 

I read the coroners’ reports for fatal farm accidents. 

They are distressing to read. 

Not just because of the human tragedy but because, in almost every case, those accidents were avoidable. 

Sometimes I share the reports at workshops and then ask “If you had the opportunity what would you have loved to have said to that person the week before that accident happened?” 

That really brings the grim reality home to people because it is clear reading those reports that with one or two different decisions those people would have gone home safely to their loved ones. 

Simple things like wearing a seatbelt, be it in the tractor, ute or side-by-side. Like switching the quad for a ute or tractor before towing that heavy load. Like checking around the vehicle to make sure no children were around before reversing.

Hindsight might be a wonderful thing but foresight is better. 

All visitors to farms need to know the farm rules and children need to be supervised. The younger they are the closer that supervision needs to be. Even the most sensible child can do something impetuous. 

It’s understandable kids should want to explore farms and it’s a great way to be introduced to one of our most important industries. That can be achieved safely, with good planning and supervision.

The main risks for children are animals, vehicles, water, machinery and agrichemicals. 

Children don’t have the judgment to deal with animals safely or the size, speed or dexterity to get out of the way swiftly. They lack the judgment, body weight and strength to handle full-sized farm vehicles like quad and farm bikes.

According to ACC figures, more than 100 children hurt themselves on these vehicles annually. About 28 are hospitalised and between three and six are killed. You need to be a second set of eyes and ears for a child to keep them safe. Discuss who’s going to be supervising children so there’s no confusion.

So, while change is happening around health and safety on farms, there is still much work to be done. 

It’s said on average people need to hear a message seven times before they change their behaviour. I believe rural professionals from merchants and company reps to livestock reps can play a vital role in carrying those messages onto farms.

Safety is not about someone with a high-viz and a clipboard. It’s about people who are known and trusted, who speak farmers’ language, who know what is involved in the day-to-day running of that farm. 

It might take courage to start those conversations because not everyone will want to listen. But the standard you walk past is the standard you accept and if unsafe behaviour goes unchecked then it becomes part of the workplace culture. 

And finally, to farmers, over Christmas, and every day – whether you are grabbing a chance to do a job amid the strange weather we have been having, whether you’re keen to get the job over because family are due or the ham is on the table – please take time to ask yourself these three things before every task.

What could go wrong? What am I doing about that? And is it enough?

Wishing you all a peaceful and safe Christmas season.

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