Safety proposals frustrate farmers

Paul Robinson says health and safety has to have an element of common sense and personal responsibility.

All farm tracks will lead to the Havelock North Club next Wednesday as farmers vent their frustration with proposed safety regulations many fear will threaten the ability to run their properties.

The frustration is highlighted by Kahuranaki Station manager Paul Robinson, who says that while he and others support the over-arching principle of health and safety of workers in all workplaces, they disagree with some of the proposals.

"With health and safety, there has to be an element of common sense and personal responsibility," he says.

"As farmers, we face risks everyday, it is part of life and the nature of the business.

"While we identify hazards and manage risk everyday in this industry, we can never completely rule out incident."

Mr Robinson says he does not support "over regulation nor the heavy-hand approach that would ultimately, bring farmers to their knees.

"This reform is set to change the dynamics of recreational activities, people coming on to the property and family.

"I can see in the future that farmers will be forced to close their gates to protect themselves against litigation.

"It is reported that the task force leading reform have consulted with WorkSafe, Fed Farmers, farming community, but were these people actually grassroots farmers?" he asks, echoing farmer doubts about the credentials of those proposing the changes.

"Had they physically worked on farms?" he asks.

"There is a vast difference between people making decisions at a corporate level or on fully funded government farms, in comparison to the majority of New Zealand farmers who actually work daily in the environment."

Details of the meeting, which starts at 3pm next Wednesday, are still being finalised, but Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman and northern Hawke's Bay farmer Fenton Wilson will chair the meeting.

Provincial Federated Farmers president Will Foley is expected to speak at the gathering, and it is hoped National MP for Rangitikei, Ian McKelvie, will also be present on Wednesday.

Interest is said to be strong. "It looks like every man and his dog will be there," says Mr Robinson, a prominent sheep dog trialist.