Gippsland farm death: Man, 74, dies in hay-bale incident at Binginwarri

A farm worker has died after suffering serious head injuries when knocked by falling hay bales.

A 74-year-old man who was knocked by falling hay bales (not pictured) has died. File picture

A farm worker has died after suffering serious head injuries while working alone in a shed in Gippsland.

WorkSafe believe the 74-year-old man struck his head on machinery after being knocked when six large round bales fell from a stack behind him last Thursday on a property at Binginwarri.

The workplace safety authority is now investigating.

The man’s death brings Victoria’s workplace fatality toll to 17 this year.

Last year, 424 people working in agriculture, the equivalent to about eight people every week, were injured seriously enough to make a worker’s compensation claim.

Australia-wide, 58 people died in on-farm incidents last year, with quad bikes, side-by-side vehicles and tractors accounting for more than half.

In March, WorkSafe launched an emotional six-week safety campaign warning farmers that a “she’ll be right” attitude could lead to their tragic death.

It aimed to challenge the mindset among agriculture workers that a serious incident won’t happen to them.

MORE

CAUSES OF DEATHS ON FARMS IN 2020

CAMPAIGN TARGETS FARMERS’ ‘SHE’LL BE RIGHT’ ATTITUDE