FARMSAFE Australia has launched a new campaign for National Farm Safety Week, which reinforces the importance of consistently making safer choices.
The "In Safe Hands" campaign coincides with the release of its 2024 Safer Farms Report, and aims to personalise safety by sharing six stories from farming businesses across the country. The videos will be published throughout the week to provide an overview of how the farmers navigate the challenges of certain work, health and safety issues on their properties. They will also discuss practical ways they embed safety practices into their everyday workplace culture.
Farmsafe said the campaign invites producers to consider the simple ways in which safety can become as easy as slipping on their boots in the morning.
It said as the campaign developed it recognised being ‘in safe hands' meant something deeply personal, yet universal, to all the farmers involved- it meant that they were able to come home to their families each night.
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Farmsafe said the findings of its 2024 Safer Farms Report underscored the continual need for raising awareness and sharing information. Following a significant decrease in on-farm fatalities last year, which were down 44 per cent on 2022, the report showed 30 farmers have already lost their lives this year.
Farmsafe Australia Chair, Felicity Richards, said the organisation is proud to celebrate the reduction in on-farm fatalities in 2023, which is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the farming community in prioritising safety.
"However, the alarming rise in fatalities in the first six months of this year reminds us that our work is far from over," she said.
"We must continue to commit to building safer cultures across our workforce to protect the lives of those who live and work on Australian farms."
The report outlines practical approaches to farm safety, emphasising the fundamental goal of safety legislation, which is to keep the farm workforce alive and well. It examines real-world experiences and practices, which aim to empower farmers with actionable strategies.
"Having a safer culture on farm is often found in the small, everyday actions – checking equipment, securing livestock pens, ensuring clear communication," Richards said.
"It's about practical steps that, when consistently taken, create a culture where everyone feels like their well-being is in safe hands.
"Farm safety isn't about compliance alone; it's about a genuine dedication to the wellbeing of our people. It's the heartbeat of our operations, ensuring every individual feels secure, valued, and able to thrive in their job."
MORE INFORMATION:
The Safer Farms Report 2024 can be found at farmsafe.org.au/safer-farms-report-2024
Watch out for the "In Safe Hands" stories on the Farming Ahead website throughout the week.
