Farm Safety Improves Through 'Incremental Gain', Says Birkett
Improving health and safety is about incremental gain rather than a sudden decision, says Leeston farmer and Federated Farmers health and safety spokesman David Birkett.
“It’s time to put the brakes on vehicle-related farm,” says Safer Farms chair and Farm Without Harm ambassador Lindy Nelson.
“We want to hear from those who know farm vehicles best – the people driving them,” she says. “We’re calling for first-hand and unfiltered accounts in farmers’ own words, sharing what they have learned from years of experience.”
“We’re asking farmers to tell us about a close call or their views around farm vehicle safety. What are the key steps they’re taking to keep them or their people out of harm’s way on farm – and what needs to change?”
Nelson says that by bringing relevant and practical knowledge and insights to the table, the sector can start to “design harm out of the system” for good.
All stories and experiences submitted will go into a draw to win either a $500 Greenlea voucher or one of two $250 meat vouchers from Alliance Group and Silver Fern Farms.
From 2019 to 2023, WorkSafe recorded 22 quad bike-related fatalities. The majority involved rollovers with steep grades and incorrect driving position the leading causes.
Harm caused by vehicles and machinery is a priority focus within Safer Farms’ Farm Without Harm Strategy – the whole of sector and whole systems approach to designing preventable harm out of New Zealand’s farming systems.
The campaign is underpinned by further industry efforts under the strategy to address vehicle-related injury and deaths.
Stories and experiences can be submitted via www.farmwithoutharm.org.nz by 25 March.
