Farm work related fatalities among adults in Victoria, Australia: The human cost of agriculture

doi:10.1016/S0001-4575(98)00057-8

Accident Analysis & Prevention

Volume 31, Issues 1–2, January 1999, Pages 153-159

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-4575(98)00057-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to review the patterns of, and trends in, farm work related fatalities among adults in one Australian state for the period 1985–1996. Fatality data was provided by the Victorian Workcover Authority Health and Safety Division. Trends were determined using regression techniques assuming a Poisson error structure for annual fatality rates. Results showed an annual average of eight deaths. Males, and those 60 years and over, were over-represented, compared to persons employed. Tractor incidents were the most common type of fatality (72%), with tractor roll overs accounting for 61% of all tractor incidents. Non tractor fatalities included being hit by a falling object and transport incidents. Statistical trend analyses revealed a non significant decrease in the tractor roll over fatality rate, and significant increases in the all farm (P=0.004) and non tractor fatality rates (P=0.036). The 3 year moving average rate for non tractor farm fatalities has increased to the point where it exceeds that for tractor roll over fatalities, and is approaching that for all tractor fatalities. Changes within the agricultural industry, coupled with the ageing of the farm workforce, appear to placing Victorian farmers at increased risk of farm work related death.

Introduction

The last two decades have seen unprecedented change in rural Australia. Commodity prices have fallen, farms have been aggregated, and large demographic changes have resulted in some municipalities losing up to 40% of their population, a significant proportion of which are younger people. A range of services, including commercial operations, community and medical health care, and social services, have been relocated to larger provincial towns or metropolitan areas. Changes occurring across the board have also impacted on rural Australia, such as those in communication technology and government policy (Humphreys, 1997, Salt, 1997).

Against this background, awareness of the significant health and safety issues in agriculture has increased. National interest in farm health and safety has heightened as a result of the formation of Farmsafe Australia in 1988 (Fragar, 1996). In Victoria, increasing importance has been accorded to reducing farm work deaths and injury by the Health and Safety Division of the Victorian Workcover Authority, the Victorian Coroner, farmer organisations and rural communities.

Prevention activities to date in Victoria have focused mainly on the installation of roll over protective structures (ROPS) on tractors, and on training courses covering front end loader operations and chemical safety. A more recent focus on farm health and safety training has emerged. It is timely to review farm fatalities in Victoria to examine trends over the last 10 years and to determine future priorities for prevention initiatives.

Section snippets

Methods

Fatality data for the agricultural industry (excluding forestry and fishing) for the 12 year period from January 1985 to December 1996 was provided in electronic form (as an Excel spreadsheet) by the Victorian Workcover Authority Health and Safety Division. Variables for each case included date of death (month and year), age, sex, geographic region, hazard, ROPS present, type of incident, and a text description of the incident.

Unintentional workplace deaths in Victoria are notifiable to the

General description

There were 98 farm fatalities among those aged 15 years and over during the study period, giving an annual average of eight. Males were over-represented, comprising 100% of fatalities, but 68% of the persons employed.

Age-specific average annual rates were not calculated due to the relatively small number of fatalities in each age group, with one exception. The average annual rate for those 60 years and over was 14.40 per 100 000, compared with 8.09 per 100 000 for all ages in the study.

Study limitations

The Health and Safety Division work related fatality database is the only detailed database currently available in Victoria for the examination of trends in farm fatalities over an extended period of time and up to as most recent as 1996. While it does not capture all farm fatalities, it does capture close to 100% of adult farm work related deaths and is therefore an appropriate data source for the examination of patterns and trends and determination of future priorities for the prevention of

Acknowledgements

The Health and Safety Division of the Victorian Workcover Authority generously provided their data in electronic form, greatly facilitating this research. The author wishes to thank Eric Young and Bruce Graham of the Victorian Workcover Authority for advice and Jason Boulter for competent research assistance. George Rechnitzer, David Chalmers John Dawson and Anne Altman made helpful critical comments on the manuscript. The author was supported by a Public Health Research Fellowship from the

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Farm work related fatalities among adults in Victoria, Australia: The human cost of agriculture

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Methods

General description

Study limitations

Acknowledgements

Annals of Epidemiology

Non-fatal farm injuries on 117 eastern Ontario beef and dairy farms: a one-year study

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

Agricultural health and safety in Australia

Australian Journal of Rural Health

The Economics of Farm Safety in Australian Agriculture, DAN-62A

Deaths as a result of work-related injury in Australia, 1982–1984

Medical Journal of Australia