FARM safety is a subject getting more and more exposure as statistics reveal 64 per cent of on-farm fatalities in 2022 were attributed to farm vehicles or mobile farm machinery. Photo: SUPPLIED.

By Mark Rabich

July 24, 2023 | 4:00 PM

WITH this week (July 16 – 23) being National Farm Safety Week, industry organisations have joined with Farmsafe Australia to send a unified message in respect of making rural areas a safe place to work and live.

The safety messages cover machinery, children and fatigue issues, but pesticides and chemicals are also part of the picture.

The underlying message of the campaign is that farmers and farm workers need to take ownership of their own safety by recognising that safety is a choice, or a series of choices that they make every day.

The theme for this year is ‘Stay on the safe side’ and The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has specifically reminded road users to give agricultural vehicles extra space on the road.

NHVR chief executive, Sal Petroccitto, said statistics showed around 70 per cent of serious incidents involving both heavy and light vehicles were the fault of the light vehicle driver.

“National Farm Safety Week is a timely opportunity to remind all drivers of the importance of taking caution around farming and other heavy vehicles,” he said.

“The NHVR is committed to working with our partners to make agriculture a safer industry for everyone.

“This valuable industry - with farmers and workers across the country - deserves our respect and part of that is giving agricultural vehicles the space they need on the roads.”

Mr Petroccitto said it was important for all motorists to be aware of the challenges faced by drivers operating heavy and large machinery.

“Tractors, grain harvesters and air seeders can all have limited turning ability, visibility of other vehicles and speed ranges,” he said.

“When you’re travelling behind or past one of these vehicles, remember to be patient, give the driver space and only overtake if it’s safe to do so.

“By giving heavy vehicles the extra space they need, we can all contribute to reducing road trauma and creating a safer agricultural industry.”

A range of subjects concerned Safe Ag Systems, including tractors and other machinery, but they also addressed fatigue.

Agriculture remains one of the most dangerous industries in Australia and 55 farmers didn’t make it home last year, an increase of 9 compared to 2021.

Out of the 55 fatalities, 11 were the result of tractors, 8 from quad bikes and 2 from side-by-sides; 64 per cent of on-farm fatalities in 2022 were attributed to farm vehicles or mobile farm machinery.

An additional 158 non-fatal on-farm injuries were also reported:

Quads - 33

Horses - 21

Tractors - 17

Side by sides - 13

Tractor rollovers

TRACTOR rollovers were highlighted with two common types identified - sideways and backflips.

These types of rollovers tend to happen on raised surfaces and especially on narrow roads due to gravity.

Since a tractor generally relies on centrifugal force balanced with its tipping axis, sideways rollovers often occur due to sharp turns or cornering.

Backflips tend to happen when rear axle torque unbalances the tractor.

This shift in balance can occur when the tractor wheels are unable to move forward, rapid acceleration or attempt to drive up a slope.

These actions may prevent the axle rotation resulting in the tractor lifting its front wheels.

Tractor runover

RUNOVER incidents tend to occur when bystanders get too closer to the front or back of the machinery and the operator is unaware.

However, an operator can also find themselves in harm’s way due to an unfortunate trip or fall.

Unsafe practices and fatigue causing lack of concentration also add to the risk of a runover - by trying to ‘save time’ drivers may attempt to start the engine from outside the cab or try to jump off or on a vehicle whilst it is in gear.

PTO entanglement

THE problem with tractor Power Take-Off (PTO) shafts is that when unguarded, loose items such as clothing, hair and jewellery can become entangled in the PTO.

As a power source for attachments such as post-hole diggers, there are several ways to reduce the risk of amputation, disability, injury and death due to a PTO.

Quadbike rollover protection

QUAD bike rollovers happen, even when being operated ‘carefully’.

It’s estimated six people per day present to the emergency department from injuries sustained on quads, 2 of which are admitted with serious injuries.

That’s thousands of injuries a year affecting people’s ability to work and live a normal life.

Similar to tractors, they’re unbalanced and heavy.

Uneven terrain or high speeds can cause these vehicles to roll over. If they fall onto the rider there is a risk of being pinned under it or death.

The Consumer Goods (Quad Bikes) Safety Standard 2019 came into effect on October 11, 2019. It implemented a set of requirements for all new, imported and second-hand quadbikes to meet.

Augers

AUGERS are widely known for being dangerous - the rapidly rotating metal spiral flight mechanism can throw a finger or hand about 1.5 metres away before the injured person has time to react.

It is estimated that around 60 serious injuries involve farm augers each year, most of those injuries are crush injuries or amputation of fingers, hands, arms and feet.

How to keep safe while operating an auger:

- Ensure all guards are in place before augers are operated, especially after maintenance

- Guard auger drive trains (belts, pulleys, drive shafts) and the rotating screw fitting

- Locate mobile augers on firm, preferably flat ground, and operate at a shallow angle less than 45 degrees to prevent overbalancing

- Lower and empty mobile augers when being transported

- Ensure the emergency stop control is next to the auger inlet

Pesticides and chemicals

PESTICIDES play a fundamental role in modern agriculture, helping to protect crops from pests, diseases and weeds.

Australia has an extraordinarily good record with on-farm safe chemical use with very low rates of workplace incidents involving the use of farm chemicals, however Farm Safety Week is an important reminder to put safety first when it comes to product handling.

Adequate training, planning and strict adherence to product label instructions are crucial to protecting farm workers and the environment.

“Best practice with the safe storage, transport, handling and use of pesticides is crucial,” CropLife Australia chief executive, Matthew Cossey said.

“There’s never a good time or place to cut corners with safety.

“The safety of the users and handlers of pesticides are the reason why Australia has robust regulatory and compliance systems designed to protect worker safety and dictate effective on-farm practices.”

Mr Cossey said CropLife and its members had invested in stewardship programs to uphold industry best practice.

“The plant science industry invests billions of dollars in R&D every year which includes developing modern and safe formulations and packaging as well as comprehensive instructions on safe use best-practices for all products,” he said.

Farmers, agriculture workers and product applicators should follow these tips to manage risk when handling pesticides:

Follow the label: Australia is also fortunate to have one of the world’s most highly regarded, technically competent, independent regulators in the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

The APVMA robustly and independently assesses all scientific information for human health and environmental safety and efficacy of pesticides before approving a product.

It also provides strict conditions of use on the labels that are legally binding.

The labels on pesticide products contain crucial information regarding proper handling, application, protective equipment requirements, and disposal.

It is vital to thoroughly read and understand these instructions before using any pesticide.

Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): The appropriate use of PPE, such as impervious aprons, gloves, goggles and chemical proof protective footwear and respirators should always be worn in line with the product instructions.

Store and Dispose of Pesticides Properly: Safely store pesticides in secure, designated areas away from children, animals, and food products.

Follow local guidelines for pesticide disposal to prevent contamination of water sources and soil.

Best Practice Professional Services: Ensure that anyone involved in pesticide transport, storage, handling and application receive proper training and information.

Stay up-to-date with the latest safety practices and techniques to minimise risks.

“CropLife’s StewardshipFirst initiative includes best-practice product application guides such as SprayBest and MyAg-CHEMuse,” Mr Cossey said.

“These were specifically developed to help farmers, spray contractors and environmental land managers optimise the safe and effective use of crop protection products while protecting themselves, neighbours and the environment.”

Managing Fatigue on Farm

FATIGUE is one of the most common hazards on a farm, and most underrated risk for everyone.

It’s more than just feeling a bit tired - fatigue is that overall feeling of tiredness or lack of energy.

It interferes with normal daily activities and functioning, impacts on alertness and slows reaction times.

To be operating at a safe level, research tells us the average person needs AT LEAST 6 hours of sleep a night, ideally 7 – 7.5hrs of uninterrupted, good quality sleep, depending on the individual.

We know peak seasons increase risks when it comes to fatigue.

Make sure you assess and manage that risk.

Consider increasing the rotation of tasks, especially during overnight shifts.

Encourage your workers to get some rest, and keep everyone hydrated as it’s generally pretty hot work.

Looking out for little farmers

CHILDREN are naturally curious, so it’s important to keep them away from danger.

This could be in the form of machinery and equipment, livestock or bodies of water.

Whilst children learn about farm safety as they develop and grow, they also mimic the behaviour of those around them.

If you uphold the importance of best practice when it comes to safety, hopefully they will too.

Addressing child safety on your farm can include the usual steps of a risk assessment.

Talk to your workers, consult them about the day-to-day activity on-farm - they might have a different perspective of what poses a danger to children.

Then identify the hazards, assess the risk and implement the controls to keep your children safe.

When it comes to your machinery, children should never ride in the back of utes, attachments or in tractors without restraints.

When introducing your children to farm vehicles, like motorbikes and quad bikes, it’s important that they understand the dangers of speeding and uneven terrain.

Stick to the manufacturer’s recommendations of age, height and weight, and ensure children have a properly fitted helmet.

First Aid

THE best thing you can do in first aid is prevention - stopping a first aid emergency before it’s even happened.

However, accidents do happen and it’s important to be prepared for that unexpected emergency.

The importance of a comprehensive farm focused first aid kit and equipment for first aid emergencies that can happen in remote areas cannot be overstated.

First aid kits should be suitable to treat the types of injury that occur and the number of people that work on the farm. These injuries include:

• snake and spider bites

• sprains, cuts, burns and broken bones

• crush injury to hands, feet arms and legs

• electrocution

• drowning

• eye injury

• amputation of arms and legs in unguarded PTOs, grain augers, post hole diggers and drivers

• quad bike crush injury

There are a large range of first aid kits that can be purchased ready to go, and are suitable for sheds and vehicles.

Also available are modern defibrillators which can be lifesavers particularly in rural areas where medical assistance is longer than 20 minutes away.

Models can feature clear and simple voice prompts for users, and even visual prompts to assist the rescuer in noisy or multi-lingual environments.