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A dozen farming deaths in as many months sparks WA work safety inquiry
By Tim Dornin
Work-related deaths across Western Australia’s farming sector will be investigated by the state’s WorkSafe commissioner.
Darren Kavanagh will conduct an inquiry into the agricultural industry after the twelfth fatality in the past 12 months, looking at deaths over the past five years.
There have been a dozen deaths in as many months on WA farms. Credit: Erin Jonasson
A 24-year-old man died in the Great Southern region on Tuesday after being struck in the head when equipment he was using to tow a bogged trailer failed.
“The statistics for the agricultural industry are not acceptable, and it is deeply concerning that the number of fatalities in the industry continues to increase,” Kavanagh said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The culture in the agriculture industry seems to allow fatal incidents to occur at significantly higher rates than any other industry, with farm production appearing to be put before the safety of families and workers.”
Kavanagh said his inquiry would look at how to make changes in safety in the industry with recommendations to go to the state government.
“Any work-related death is a tragedy, and I offer my sincere condolences to the family of the worker involved in yesterday’s incident,” he said.
AAP