Farms are the most dangerous workplaces in Australia. Their physical, chemical and biological hazards are legion. Farms are 10% of Australian workplaces but account for 25% of all unintended work-related deaths: 100-150 each year. Children under 15 and adults over 65 are most likely to be killed or injured. Farms will never be totally safe, and so farm deaths and injuries will never disappear. However the death and injury toll can be reduced if safety procedures are put in place, and every farm worker and family member is trained and aware of potential hazards. Nonetheless farm death and injury rates aren’t falling. It’s the same story in the UK where in 2007-8 there were 42 farm deaths, and the 1-2% of the national workforce employed on farms accounted for almost 20% of workplace deaths. To tackle this problem, the UK Government has posted knotted string to 70,000 British farmers. The ₤692K (A$1.5M) campaign asks farmers to tie the knotted green twine to tractors or farm gates to remind them of farm safety. Though the scheme’s supported by the UK’s National Farmers Union, some farmers consider it patronising and insulting. I applaud it. I think it’s innovative enough that it just could work. Which clearly the status quo isn't doing. But the average ₤9.88 (A$21.43) per farmer is outrageous.
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