WorkSafe will move to reduce the number of fatalities after a ‘horrific’ and ‘unacceptable’ 2017.
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Figures released this month showed 27 Victorians lost their lives in 2017 as a result of an incident at a workplace - the highest toll since 2009.
This includes 14 deaths from incidents on farms, the highest number of farm fatalities since 2004.
WorkSafe Head of Hazardous Industries and Industry Practice Michael Coffey said the number of deaths in Victorian agricultural workplaces was “unacceptable”.
Mr Coffey said WorkSafe had a number of initiatives were in place to improve farm safety with agricultural deaths making up more than half the total number of workplace fatalities in 2017.
“Farmers should never think experience will prevent accidents,” Mr Coffey said. “As we see every year, it is often experienced farmers doing everyday tasks who fail to come home at the end of the day.
“That is why it is critical for every farmer to take a few moments to think about how to do every job safely.”
He said a rebate was available to farmers who fitted rollover protection on their quad bike. It could also be used towards the cost of buying an alternate vehicle such as side-by side or a small utility vehicles.
He said WorkSafe had also provided funding to the Victorian Farmers Federation to employ a farm safety program officer to help farmers identify hazards and advise on the steps to reduce the risks.
WorkSafe will continue to visit field days in 2018 to encourage farmers to discuss safety issues and access information.
WorkSafe Head of Operations and Emergency Management, Adam Watson said the ‘horrific’ 2017 toll showed that employers and workers needed to think more constructively about what they could do to improve safety.
A WorkSafe spokesman encouraged employees to speak up if they saw something dangerous or risky. “Every employer and worker has a role to play in keeping the workplace safe,” he said.
The spokesman said a small business safety essentials program, which offered a free occupational health and safety consultancy service, was available to small to medium sized businesses.
WorkSafe inspectors will visit more than 40,000 Victorian workplaces this year and prosecute companies or individuals who breach OHS laws.
Safety concerns can be reported to WorkSafe’s advisory service on 1800 136 089.