FarmSafe Injury Prevention Programme
Eleven farmers are seriously injured every day around the country and one farmer is killed on their farm every three weeks. The most common causes of farm injuries are animals, All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), manual handling, falls, and noise-related damage. ACC handled over 4200 serious new claims from farmers last year, at a cost of over $10 million. ACC also paid out a further $20 million in relation to a further 3000 serious claims from previous years. Other claims cost a further $15.4 million.
In a bid to cut those statistics, ACC has joined forces with Federated Farmers to develop an injury prevention programme called FarmSafe. FarmSafe will involve small groups of farmers attending local, half-day interactive seminars, which are scheduled to begin this month. The seminars will focus on the common causes of farm injuries, what can be done to avoid them, and how farmers can identify and deal with potential hazards on their properties.
FarmSafe seminars will be held in 550 locations over the next year, with organisers hoping to see 8000 farmers attend. The long-range aim is to have 40,000 farmers participate in the programme over the next five years. Farmers will also be encouraged to attend annual follow-up shed meetings each year to discuss advances in injury prevention techniques, as well as farm-specific developments in areas such as environmental and quality control.
FarmSafe is supported by the Ministry of Education, with Agricultural ITO, Agriculture NZ Ltd, and Telford Polytechnic all helping prepare and deliver the programme. Those attending can gain credits towards NZQA (NZ Qualifications Authority) agricultural qualifications. ACC and a variety of companies working in the agricultural sector are also contributing prizes and offering discounts to participants.
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
Contact this person
