Four new fact books have been released to aid in the ongoing battle to reduce farm-related deaths and injuries in Australian agriculture.

The booklets are the latest additions to the “Facts and Figures on Farm Health and Safety Series” produced by the Joint Research Venture for Farm Health and Safety, a collaborative partnership managed by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).

The booklets are designed to raise awareness of farm health and safety issues and to better inform government agencies, farm groups and individuals when making government and industry policy on farm safety.

The new booklets are:

• Traumatic deaths in Australian agriculture
• ATV injury on Australian farms
• Occupational Health and Safety risk in the Australian dairy industry and
• Health and safety in older farmers in Australia.

RIRDC’s Acting General Manager of National Rural Issues, Jane Fisher, said the fact books filled a need for accurate data on fatalities and injuries on the farm.

“Farmers and farm workers are more likely to be killed or injured than workers in almost any other industry in Australia.  Governments and industry groups have been working for many years now to reduce farm accidents and these booklets are part of a series that will help better inform decision-making,” Ms Fisher said.

“They are also designed to be used by educators and speakers to help raise awareness of the devastating cost of farm fatalities and injuries.

“For instance they highlight that between 2000 and 2005, 76 people died in accidents involving All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and 53 of them were farm-related.  The statistics show that 33 of the 76 fatal cases involved roll-overs.

“This sort of detailed information can be used to help educate farmers and farm workers and plan future policy in this area,” Ms Fisher said.

The Joint Research Venture for Farm Health and Safety is a partnership between Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation and the Grains, Sugar, Cotton and Rural Industries Research and Development Corporations, and is managed by RIRDC. The Venture invests in R&D to enhance the wellbeing and productivity in rural industries through improved occupational health and safety and safe systems of work on farms.

Copies of the booklets can be obtained by calling RIRDC on (02) 6271 4160 or by visiting www.rirdc.gov.au.

Media enquiries:
Danny O’Brien – RIRDC Communications Manager – 02 6271 4175 or 0438 130 445