National Farm Safety Week delivered an urgent reminder that safety must remain front of mind beyond just one week a year.
Australia’s peak workplace safety body used the awareness campaign to encourage farmers and agricultural workers to treat near misses as powerful warning signs — not just luck, but chances to make meaningful change.
The statistics remain stark. According to Safe Work Australia, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector continues to be among the nation’s deadliest, recording an average of 38 workplace fatalities each year.
This year’s theme, Second Chances, was a call to action from the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS), prompting farmers to reflect on the moments that almost went wrong — and use them to prevent the ones that might.
“Farming is fast-paced and unpredictable. Every day, ag workers are operating heavy machinery, managing unpredictable animals, working at heights, mixing chemicals, or simply navigating long hours in tough conditions,” said AIHS CEO Julia Whitford.
“Near misses aren’t just lucky escapes – they’re important warnings. If we pause to reflect and act after a close call, we can mitigate that risk and prevent future incidents.”
Farm fatalities are often caused by vehicle rollovers, falls, equipment accidents, and being struck by moving objects, but Ms Whitford noted that safety concerns on farms go far beyond physical hazards.
“Long hours, financial pressures, and the mental strain of working in isolation or in extreme conditions also takes a toll,” she said.
“Many ag workers operate in remote areas without easy access to healthcare or support. Add to that the stress of unpredictable seasons, burn out, and market conditions, and you’ve got a perfect storm for both physical and psychological injury.”
National Farm Safety Week served as an important reminder to check in—not just with equipment and safety procedures, but with the wellbeing of oneself and others.
“We want farm workers to start asking: What went wrong? What nearly went wrong? And what can I do differently?” Ms Whitford said.
“Second chances don’t always come around – and that’s why safety has to start with the lessons we choose to learn now.”
More resources and safety tools are available at the AIHS website, www.aihs.org.au.
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