Farm deaths and injuries add up

A farmer is killed every 28 days in farming accidents in New Zealand while a farmer or an agricultural worker is injured every half an hour, the Accident Compensation Corporation says.

According to ACC, 13 farmers died in accidents on farms last year. There were 18,600 injuries on farms and the most common causes of injuries were poor handling of animals, quad bikes and farm machinery. Nearly 1700 farm workers injured by cattle last year cost the country nearly $6 million in ACC claims.

Otago University has forecast that in any given year farm workers will lose control of quad bikes on approximately 12,645 occasions, resulting in about 1400 injuries. Not all of these will be registered as workplace injury claims with ACC.

Tractor accidents are also causing concern with more than 300 people injured by being run over, rolling the tractors or being injured by an uncovered power take-off (PTO) shaft.

ACC general manager Keith McLea said tractor, cattle and quad bike accidents cost New Zealanders $12.4 million a year in ACC claims alone.

ACC has produced three safety booklets with useful tips on handling cattle, driving tractors and controlling quad bikes to help farmers avoid preventable injury.

- NZPA