Workplace Injuries - Farm Safety in Focus

In Queensland, agriculture, forestry and fishing workers had the highest fatality rate of all work sectors at 18.4 per 100,000 workers according to the latest Work-Related Traumatic Injury Fatalities report published by Safe Work Australia.

The hazards that contribute to the dangers of working in Agriculture include the common use of machinery such as tractors, motorbikes and quad bikes, chemicals, noise, dust, unpredictable environmental conditions, and working with livestock.

Agricultural workers are often working alone or in remote locations away from immediate medical care which not only increases the risk of an incident resulting in an injury occurring, but also the consequences of that incident.

In addition, as the agricultural workforce continues to age – the average age being 55 – there is an increased risk of fatalities and serious injuries occurring from the natural effects of ageing, as well as an increase in recovery time from strenuous work.

This can leave our older workers vulnerable to not only ongoing health issues but unwanted financial stress.

Duties

An employer has a duty to keep its workers and workplace safe from the possibility that death, injury or illness might occur when exposed to a hazard.

The guiding principle is that all people are given the highest level of health and safety protection from hazards arising from work, so far as is reasonably practicable. In other words, what could be reasonably done to ensure ongoing health and safety, taking into account:

·         the likelihood of the relevant hazard or risk occurring;

·         the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or risk;

·         what the person knows, or ought to reasonably know, about the hazard or risk and the ways of eliminating or minimising the risk;

·         the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk.

An employer must first take steps to identify the risk and eliminate it so far as is reasonably practicable. If the risk cannot be eliminated, it must be minimised by the use of control measures as far as is reasonably practicable.

Workers also have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and of other people in the workplace. Workers must comply with any reasonable instruction and health and safety policy or procedure, such as procedures for operating machinery or instructions to wear personal protective equipment.

Compensation

Agricultural workers injured at work spend an average of around 6 weeks off work as a result of their injuries.

If you are injured at work, workers compensation can help to cover the cost of medical expenses, provide income support, as well as assist workers and employers to safely return an injured person back to work after suffering an injury or illness.

If you’ve been involved in a work accident and need advice regarding your legal rights, call the team at Southside Legal to arrange an obligation free consultation for further assistance.