This week is National Farm Safety Week; an annual campaign to raise awareness of farm safety issues in rural communities across Australia. 

This year, the campaign is focused on safety issues as they span the life of a farmer, from child safety right through to ageing on farm, including young workers, physical and mental health issues.

Agriculture consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous industries to work in here in Australia. Farmers have a duty under WHS legislation to provide a healthy and safe workplace, and that includes the mental and emotional wellbeing of their employees.  

According to the Australian Workplace Barometer Report commissioned by Safe Work Australia, depression costs Australian employers on average approximately $8 billion every year through sick leave and/or loss of productivity due to working while sick. $693 million of that figure is attributed to job strain and bullying.

There have been an average of 41 workers killed each year in the agriculture industry since 2005, and an average of 2,980 serious safety claims in the agriculture industry per year.

More information is available here.