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CONTENTS INTRODUCTION AboutFarmsafeAustralia FarmsafeAustraliaMembers FarmsafeAustraliaContacts

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MEDIARELEASES FarmSafetyfixitforeveryone Protectingthefuture Quadbikesstillrollingspectacularfarmsafetyfailure Quadbikes Tractors Machinery Farmvehiclesandtraffic Handlinglivestock Noise Children

FIXITFOREVERYONEthesolutions

NationalFarmSafetyWeekMediaResourcePackage

1622July2012

INTRODUCTION 2012 National Farm Safety Week aims to raise awareness of farm safety issues in rural communitiesacrossAustralia. ThisyearsNationalFarmSafetyWeekthemeisFarmSafetyFixitforEveryone. This theme continues to highlight the importance of business and industry working together to achievetheFarmsafemission/visionstatementofimprovingthewellbeingofAustralianfarmers throughimprovedattentiontohealthandsafety. Farm Safety Week has been running successfully for the past 15 years and provides a national focusonfarmsafety.Includedinthispackageareseveralfactsheetsandmediareleasesthathave beenprovidedasaguideforFarmsafeGroupsandthemediatouseastheyseefit. There has been a significant reduction in farm fatalities over the last 20 years from a yearly average of 146 deaths to approximately 60 in 2011 (subject to final verification based on coronial data). In 2011, quad bikes eclispsed tractors by a ratio of almost 2:1 as the leading cause of non intentional farm injury death. Of the 23 quad bike related fatalities identified through the media, 18 occured on farms. Already in 2012 (May), there have been eight quad bike related fatalities, twoofwhichweretochildrenaged5and9years. Supporting pictures for any media coverage is available by contacting Farmsafe on 02 6752 8210 orviaemailkerrilynn.peachey@sydney.edu.au.

NationalFarmSafetyWeekMediaResourcePackage

1622July2012

2. ABOUTFARMSAFEAUSTRALIA FarmsafeAustraliaiscommittedtoachievingimprovedhealthandsafetyonAustralianFarms.
MISSION

To improve the wellbeing and productivity of Australian agriculture throughenhanced healthand safetyawarenessandpractices
PHILOSOPHY

Programs and activities of Farmsafe Australia are based upon the philosophy that the key responsibility for farm safety rests primarily with individual farmers, farm families and farm workers. Farming communities need improved knowledge and practical safety solutions in farm health and safetytoreducetheriskofinjuryandillnessassociatedwithagriculturalproduction. Governmentandotheragencieshaveimportantrolesinsupportingfarmerstoimprovehealthand safety through establishment of relevant and appropriate mechanisms to identify and define commonrisksandtheircontrol. Thewiderruralcommunitycanassistinfacilitatingfarmsafetyactionthroughthedevelopmentof asafetycultureinruralcommunitiesandtheirnetworksthatsupportfarmersandtheirfamilies. 2.1 MembersofFarmsafeAustralia NationalFarmersFederation CountryWomensAssociationofAustralia AustralianWorkersUnion DepartmentofAgriculture,FisheriesandForestry SafeWorkAustralia RuralIndustriesResearchandDevelopmentCorporation AgriFoodSkillsAustralia TractorandMachineryAssociationofAustralia MotorTradersAssociationofAustralia MonashUniversityAccidentResearchCentre AustralianWomeninAgriculture AustralianCentreforAgriculturalHealthandSafetyUniversityofSydney FarmSafeNewZealand FarmsafeQueenslandLtd FarmsafeVictoria FarmsafeSouthAustralia FarmsafeNewSouthWales

FarmsafeWesternAustraliaAlliance FarmsafeTasmaniaPassInc
NationalFarmSafetyWeekMediaResourcePackage 1622July2012 4

3. FarmsafeContacts ThefollowingpeoplecanassistyouincarryingoutyourownFarmSafetyWeekactivities.
FarmsafeAustralia JohnTemperley Website:www.farmsafe.org.au FarmsafeNewSouthWales KerriLynnPeachey Website:www.farmsafe.org.au FarmsafeQueensland 0267528218 0267528210 FarmsafeSouthAustralia 0888352239 LinMorris Website:www.farmsafe.org.au FarmsafeVictoria TimMcKenzie Website:www.vff.org.au 0392075512

0747740522

FarmsafeWAAlliance

0893594114

JamieCupples Website:www.farmsafe.com.au ProactiveAgriculturalSafety&SupportInc(Tas) AnneTaylor Website:www.pass.org.au 0363986212

SheilaPayne Website:www.farmsafewa.org

NationalFarmSafetyWeekMediaResourcePackage

1622July2012

MediaRelease
FarmersFixingItForEveryone

2June2012

Australian farmers can be proud that they have made great improvements in safety over recent years said Lin Morris, farmer from Weetulta, South Australia and Chairman of Farmsafe Australia. Over the past 20 years we have seen a drop of almost 60% in the number of onfarm injury deaths from an average of 146 to below 60 per year in 2011. This is great news, but we know we can and must do even betterthanthat. This is why this years theme for Farmsafe Week is about fixing safety for everyone. As farmers we are good at tinkering and fixing things up, but we need to pay the same amount of attention to fixing the safety issues that may be present on our farms stated Lin. Generally, we know what to do to improve safety, its just a matter of getting into it and doing it. Its also important to fix any hazards as safer propertiesmeanlessdowntimeduetoinjuriesordamagetoequipment,soourbottomlineimproves. Despitethegreatprogresswearemakinginagriculture,quadbikefatalitiesbuckthistrendhesaid. In2011,ofthe23quadbikerelateddeathsthatoccurednationally,18wereonfarm.Thisisahuge increaseandjustaddstothe127deathsinthe10yearsbeforethisinvolvingquadbikes. Tragicallyalmost20%ofcasesinvolvechildrenunder15yearsofageandthistrendisbeingrepeatedin 2012,with8quadbikerelateddeathsalready(6onfarm),twoofwhichweretochildrenaged5and9 years. KeyFactsDeathsonfarms(Jan1May31,2012) Totalnumberofdeaths=21 Quadbikes=6 Tractors=1 Children=7(including2quadbikesand2drowning) Therearesolutionsalreadyavailabletoreducedeathsfromthemajorcausesquadbikes,tractors,farm utes, farm motorcycles and drowning. While drops in deaths over the past 20 years are fantastic, there reallyisaneedtofasttrackimprovements.Thekeytodoingthisistofixhazardsforeveryone. Improving health and safety has a human face, as each death or serious injury prevented means that people dont have to cope with the negative impacts that come from these events. We really trust that the farming community gets behind this effort to improve safety not just this week, but 365 days a year anddoesFixitforeveryone. Awiderangeofmaterialsthatcanassistpeoplethatworkandliveonfarmstoreducetherisksto themselves,farmworkers,familymembersandvisitors,isavailablefromtheFarmsafeAustraliawebsite www.farmsafe.org.auorcalltheAustralianCentreforAgriculturalHealthandSafetyon(0267528210) forfurtherinformation. MediaContact:JohnTemperley0267528210

MediaRelease
Protectingthefuture

2June2012

AsfarmersourmostpreciousgiftisourchildrensaidLinMorris,farmerfromWeetulta,SouthAustralia andChairmanofFarmsafeAustralia.Tragicallytoomanychildrenareinjuredorevenworsekilledonour farmseachyear.Wereallywantallfarmerstobeproactiveandtakethestepsthatweknowcanprotect ourfuturefarmers. Nationallyabout20%ofonfarminjuryfatalitiesaretochildrenunder15yearsofageandtherearemany timesmoreinjurieseachyear,somewithlifelongconsequences.Byfarthebiggestriskisdrowning, especiallyforchildrenyoungerthan5yearsofage.However,othermajorissuesincludequadbikes, machineryandvehicles. Thereareveryclearthingswecandotoprotectourchildren,itsnotaboutwrappingthemupincotton wool,butitisabouttakingsensiblestepstoreducethechanceofthingsgoingwrongstatedLin.Akey areaforallfarmsistohaveasecuresafeplayareaforchildrenunder5years.Whetheryouareparentsof youngchildren,agrandparentorsimplyhavekidsvisitingonyourpropertyeverynowandthen,asecure playareaisamust.Tragically,around30%ofthechilddeathsonAustralianfarmsoverthepast10years havebeentofarmvisitors. Quad bikes are also a disturbing feature affecting children and we are pleading with parents to ensure thatchildren under16yearsdontride orbecarried aspassengersonquadbikesofanysize.Lastyearwe had 4 children killed and there have already been 2 this year. But simply the risk is not worth it, as kids dont have the physical size, strength, coordination and emotional maturity to safely operate such a dangerouspieceofequipment. The Royal Australian College of Surgeons in addition to other international medical organisations in Canada and the USA, all indicate that quad bikes of any size should not be ridden by children under 16 years.Thisisbasedontheirdirectknowledgeoftheinjuriesandharmthattheyseeinhospitals. Of course we want to develop in our kids a love of the land and all things agricultural, but if you want them to help out, put them on a two wheeler, make sure its the right size for them, that they have a helmet and other protective gear and are trained and supervised. Yes they may still come a cropper, but the chances of serious injury or worse are far less, as two wheelers dont crush or asphyxiate riders when theyroll. The two things you can do straight away for children that may live or visit your farm is to make sure you have a secure safe play area and not to allow children on quad bikes. This may not make you popular but sometimesastheexpressiongoes,youneed tobecrueltobekind.Nobodylikestosee childreninthese incidents,soletsfixtheseissuesforeveryone. Further information on child safety including safe play areas and quad bike safety can be obtained from the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (02 6752 8210) or by visiting the website www.aghealth.org.au MediaContact:TonyLower0267528210

MediaRelease
StillrollingQuadbikesamajorsafetyfailure

2June2012

Between2001and2010,therewasanaverageof13quadbikedeathsperyear.In2011,thisincreased to23deathsandtragicallyinthefirstfivemonthsof2012,8peoplehavealreadydiedonquadbikes. Quadbikesarenowtheleadingcauseofdeathsonfarms,outrankingtractorsbyaratioofalmost2:1, withhalfofthesedeathsbeingtheresultofthemachinesrollingover.Toomanypeoplearebeing asphyxiatedorcrushedtodeathsaidLinMorris,farmerfromWeetulta,SouthAustraliaandChairman ofFarmsafeAustralia. KeyFactsDeathsonquadbikes200110 Totalnumberofdeaths=127 Rolloverswereresponsiblefor46%ofthedeaths Overall89%ofrolloverdeathsoccurredonafarm Childrenaccountfor19%ofthesedeaths.NOCHILDunder16yearsshouldrideaquad bikeofanysizeastheydonothavethephysicalsize,strength,coordinationand emotionalmaturitytohandlesuchadangerouspieceofequipment. Quadbikeshaveanillusionofstabilityandpeopleoftenthinkthatfourwheelsaresaferthantwo wheels.Thisissimplynotthecase.Becauseoftheirinstability,quadbikesareoftennotthebestor safestvehicleforthejobsthatneedtobeundertakenonthefarm.statedLin. Inmanycasesasmallute,sidebysidevehicleortwowheelmotorbikewillbeabetteralternativeand whilethesecarrytheirownrisks,weknowtheyarelowerthanthatofquadbikes.Infactmanyfarmers havemovedawayfromusingquadbikesatallbecausetheriskofrolloveristoohigh. Ifusingaquad,akeytoreducingthenumberofdeathsfromrolloversisfittingasuitablytestedcrush protectiondevice(CPD).Thesedeviceswilllimitpeoplebeingcrushedbyquadbikeswhentheydo rolloverandhavebeenrecommendedbyallstateWorkHealthAuthoritiesintheTransTasmanquad bikesafetystrategy.TheCPDsarelightweight(8kg),canbefittedtomostbikemodelsthroughasimple towballfitting,dontinterferewithnormalsaferidingpractices,norhampergettingonoroffthequad. Fittingthesedeviceswillsavelivesandpreventmanyseriousinjuriesintheeventofarollover.Whether ridershavelotsofexperienceorarenovices,crushprotectiondevicesmakequadssafer. The impact of deaths and serious injuries from quad bikes is significant and I am sure everyone would like to see a decrease in these. Based on current evidence we reinforce the message that all owners and operators of quad bikes should take steps to protect riders in the event of a rollover by fitting a crush protection device, keeping children under 16 off quads of all sizes, never carrying passengers, ensuring training/supervision,workingwithinloadlimitsandwearingahelmet. FurtherinformationonquadbikesafetycanbeobtainedfromtheAustralianCentreforAgricultural HealthandSafety(0267528210)orbyvisitingthewebsitewww.aghealth.org.au. MediaContact:TonyLower0267528210

FarmSafetyfixitforeveryone

Quadbikes

Whatarethehazardsandrisks? Thecommonrisksarecausedbyriderslosingcontrol,collision,quadbikerollover,carryingpassengersand loadsandridersunder16yearsofage.Thiscanresultin: Deathofridersandpassengersfromcollision,beingthrownfromthequadbikeorbeing crushed/asphyxiatedduringrollover Seriousinjuryresultinginpermanentinjuryordisability Whoisatrisk? Thepeopleatriskofinjurywhiledrivingorridingquadbikesare: Allquadbikeriders Peoplebeingcarriedaspassengers Operatorsunder16yearsofageonanysizedquadbike Whatneedstobedonetokeeppeoplesafe? Thesearerulesandwaysofmakingsurepeoplearesaferwhileoperatingquadbikes: Choosingwhetherthequadbikeisthesafestmachineforthejob FitaCrushProtectiondevicetopreventinjuryduringrollover Onlyoperatebikesthatareingoodrepair.Doapreoperationsafetycheck,especiallybrakesandtyre pressure Onlyrideaquadbikeifyouhavebeenproperlytrained Donotletanyoneunder16yearsoldoperateaquadbikeofanysize Donotcarrypassengers Makingsurethatthequadbikeisnotoverloaded Onlyridethequadbikeonfarmtracksandareasthathavebeenidentifiedassafe Alloperatorsaretowearahelmet

KeyFactsDeathsonquadbikes Totalnumberofdeaths=127(20012010)+23(2011)+8(2012)=158deaths Rolloverswereresponsiblefor46%ofthedeaths Overall89%ofrolloverdeathsoccurredonafarm Childrenaccountfor19%ofthesedeaths.NOCHILDunder16yearsshouldrideaquadbikeofany sizeastheydonothavethephysicalsize,strength,coordinationandemotionalmaturitytohandle suchadangerouspieceofequipment.

FarmSafetyfixitforeveryone

ChildrenonFarms
Whatarethehazardsandrisks? Thecommonrisksaretoddlerswanderingoff,childrenplayingunsupervisedwhereworkisbeingdone, childrenbeingtakenintoshearingsheds,cattleyards,ridingontractors,farmmachineryorriding unrestrainedonthebackofutesandinvehicles.Thishasresultedin: toddlersdrowning childrenbeingcrushedbylivestock childrenbeingentangledandrunoverbytractors,vehiclesandfarmmachinery childrenfallingoffthebackofmovingutesandbeinginjuredduringmotorvehiclecrashes Whoisatrisk? Allchildrenlivingandvisitingfarms. Whatneedstobedonetokeepchildrensafe? Therearerulesandwaysofmakingsurechildrenarenotinjuredordieonfarms,suchas: CreatingaSafePlayAreaasecurelyfencedyardwithselflatchinggatetopreventtoddlers wanderingawayunsupervisedandbeingrunoverordrowninginfarmdams,troughsandcreeks. Dontleavekeysinparkedvehicles,tractorsandmachinery Supervisechildrenonfarmswhentheyaccompanyparentswhenworkisbeingdone DONOTcarrychildrenaspassengersorallowchildrentooperateorridequadbikesofanysize DONOTcarrychildrenaspassengersorallowchildrentorideontractorsandfarmsmachinery Makesureallchildrenandpassengersarewearingseatbeltsinfarmvehicles Notcarryorallowchildrentorideunrestrainedinthebackoffarmutes Wearhelmetswhenridinghorsesandfarmmotorbikes

KeyFactsChildinjurydeathsonfarm Children(<15years)areinvolvedin17%ofallfarminjurydeaths In2012toMay31,7ofthe21deathsnotifiedinvolvedchildren Drowningistheleadingcauseofdeath(particularly<5years),followedbyquadbikeuse 34%ofchilddeathsinvolvevisitorstothefarm

FarmSafetyfixitforeveryone
Tractors

Whatarethehazardsandrisks? Thecommonrisksarecausedbydriversmountingordismountingamovingtractor,operatingatractor withoutacabinorrolloverprotectionstructure(ROPS)andusingunguardedpowertakeoff(PTO) poweredmachinery.Thiscanresultin: Deathofdrivers,passengersandbystanders Seriousinjuryresultinginpermanentdisability Whoisatrisk? Thefollowingarelikelytobeatriskofinjurywhiledrivingorridingontractors: OperatorsareatriskofinjuryoperatingtractorswithoutROPS Passengersridingontractors Operatorsgettingonoroffmovingtractors WorkersattachingandservicingPTOdrivenmachinery Bystandersbeingkilledorinjuredbyreversingtractors Whatneedstobedonetokeeppeoplesafe? Therearerulesandwaysofmakingsurepeoplearesafeworkingwithandaroundtractors: Onlyoperateatractorifyouhavebeentrainedandauthorised OnlyoperatetractorswithROPSorcabins CheckthatallPTOandtractorguardsareinplacebeforestartingoroperatinganytractororPTO poweredmachinery Checkthatbystandersandvehiclesareclearbeforestartingorreversingtractors Onlyuseimplementsattachedtothetractorsdrawbarorthreepointlinkageandwithinthetractoror manufacturersguidelines Donotcarrypassengersunlessthereisanapprovedseat Donotcarrychildrenontractors

FarmSafetyfixitforeveryone

FarmMachinery

Whatarethehazardsandrisks? Thecommonrisksarecausedtotheoperatorandbystandersbecomingentangledinexposedmoving parts,fallingfrommachineryandexposuretoloudnoise.Thiscanresultin: Deathofoperatorsandbystanders Seriousinjuryresultinginamputationofarms,hands,legswithpermanentdisability Electrocutionofoperatorsmovingtallmachineryunderpowerlines Riskofhearingdamagefromloudnoise Whoisatrisk? Thefollowingarelikelytobeatriskofinjurywhileoperatingfarmmachinery: Theoperatorsofallfarmmachinery Bystanders Whatneedstobedonetokeeppeoplesafe? Therearerulesandwaysofmakingsurepeoplearesafearoundmachinery: Makesurethatallguardsareinplacebeforestartingoroperatingfarmmachinery Keepbystanderswellclearfromfarmmachinery Wearhearingprotectiontopreventhearingdamage Donotrideonfarmmachinery Lowergrainaugersandusesaferoutestopreventcontactwithoverheadpowerlineswhenoperating andtransportingtallmachinery,includingtrucksandharvesters.

FarmSafetyfixitforeveryone

Farmvehiclesandtraffic
Whatarethehazardsandrisks? Thecommonrisksarecausedbydriverslosingcontrol,vehiclecollision,vehiclerolloverandreversingor runningoverchildrenandadults.Thiscanresultin: Deathofdrivers,passengersandbystanders Seriousinjuryresultinginpermanentinjury Whoisatrisk? Thefollowingarelikelytobeatriskofinjurywhiledrivingorridinginfarmvehicles: Driversandpassengersinutilities,carsandtrucks Passengersridingontraysofutilities Childrenandothersinthewayofreversingvehicles Occupantsofothervehicleswherethereisacollision Whatneedstobedonetokeeppeoplesafe? Therearerulesandwaysofmakingsurepeoplearesafeinandaroundvehicles: Driversandallpassengerswearingseatbelts Keepingtoagreedfarmroadsandroutes Stickingtofarmspeedlimits Checkingbeforereversing,makesurenochildrenorpeoplearearound Makesureonlydriverswhoarequalifiedandcompetentdrivevehicles