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.
She says research on a campaign promoted by the Department of Labour, shows a 200% increase in the number of quad bike helmets being sold since 2010. The minister describes this as a fantastic result in just one year.
“I’m very happy to see farmers responding positively and taking action to improve quad bike safety, with many now making helmets compulsory on their farms. This is especially important when we consider that 40% of quad bike fatalities involve head injuries.”
An average of 850 people are injured, with another five killed, every year in on-farm quad bike accidents. Wilkinson says there is now evidence to show that more farmers have opted not to operate quad bikes on their properties as a result of the risks.
Labour Department inspectors have been out in the country make checks to ensure that quad bikes are being operated safely.
“It’s great to see many farmers taking this responsibility seriously and I want to thank all the farming organisations including Federated Farmers, Farm Safe and Dairy Women for their continued strong advocacy for improving quad bike safety," says Wilkinson.
