Farm deaths spike by almost 20 per cent in Australia

More than 50 people died on Australian farms last year, with the number of deaths in Victoria almost doubling.

55 people died in Australia in on-farm accidents in 2022. Picture: AAP/MIKE BURTON

The rate of farm deaths in Australia spiked by almost 20 per cent last year.

AgriFutures Australia has found there was a total of 55 on-farm deaths reported - a 19.5 per cent increase from the 46 reported in 2021.

Queensland recorded 16 on-farm deaths last year, while in NSW there were 13 and in Victoria, fatalities almost doubled rising from six to 11.

Eleven of the deaths occurred due to tractor incidents while eight came as a result of quad ATVs or UTVs.

The AgriFutures report also found there were 158 non-fatal on-farm injuries recorded last year, with 33 involving quad bikes, 21 with horses and 17 with tractors.

Almost 20 per cent of all non-fatal on-farm injuries involved children under the age of 15.

Abilities Agriculture founder and director Josie Clarke said improving accessibility on-farm would simultaneously improve safety.

“Safety and accessibility go hand-in-hand and we have members of our group who have developed a disability because of farm accident,” Ms Clarke said.

“The narrative used to be this person with a disability could be you, but now the message is how can you make your farm more accessible, which makes it safer.

“For instance, some are installing hoists for tractors and machinery or using hydraulic cattle crushes.”

Ms Clarke also said there was not enough assistance in place to help those injured in farm accidents.

“We need to have a look at rehabilitation programs and support because right now there is not enough to help people return after an on-farm incident,” she said.

AgriFutures figures show agriculture remains one of Australia’s most dangerous industries.

Data released by WorkSafe Victoria last year showed on-farm deaths accounted for 14 per cent of all workplace deaths in the state since 2018, despite the industry making up only two per cent of the workforce.