The release, timed with National Farm Safety Week, aims to enhance safety practices on farms across the country.
Andrew Beer (pictured), executive general manager of WFI, said the collaboration with Farmsafe Australia aligns with the insurer’s commitment to improving safety in agricultural communities.
“WFI Insurance is delighted to be an ambassador of Farmsafe Australia, and we’re proud to support the publication of its ‘Safer Farms Report.’ Our partnership with Farmsafe Australia aligns with our purpose, ‘to make your world a safer place,’ and further deepens our commitment to helping agricultural communities better understand their risks and improving safety on farms,” he said.
Beer highlighted the nature of incidents in the farming sector.
“We see first-hand the adverse outcomes of when things go wrong on farms, where events can unfold quickly and often in remote locations. Many of the accidents we see are preventable, which can make it even more heartbreaking,” he said. “While our data shows a reduction in incidents across some agricultural sectors over the past year, we have also seen horrific life-changing injuries, leaving devastation that extends far beyond the farm gate.”
Over the past year, WFI has observed several trends:
Data from the last five years showed that knee injuries were the most common, followed by lower back and shoulder injuries. Lacerations made up 32% of claims, fractures 19%, and soft tissue injuries 17%.
The main risks remain heavy machinery, large animals, and severe weather, with farm property damage claims from natural events rising by 32% in the past year.
Machinery incidents were often linked to fatigue, loss of concentration, and skipping safety steps to expedite tasks. Self-managed repairs, frequently without proper disengagement, were a leading cause of injuries.
“Behind these statistics are people, whose lives, properties, and livelihoods have forever been changed. Safety must always be the central consideration when working on farms,” Beer said.
In conjunction with the report, WFI will release a podcast episode featuring Felicity Richards, chair of Farmsafe Australia, who will discuss the report’s findings and ongoing efforts to improve farm safety.
“We applaud Farmsafe Australia for the ‘Safer Farms 2024 Report,’ and look forward to continuing to work alongside them to help protect the safety and wellbeing of farmers, their families, and their farms,” Beer said.
In another news from the farming sector, farmers expressed concerns that a planned solar plant in northeast Victoria could make their properties uninsurable due to high fire risk.
