Farmers and OSH fight workplace hazards

Tuesday 24 April 2001

Close to 4000 New Zealand farmers have been working with Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH) to make our farms safer.

As part of a national agricultural strategy OSH, which is part of the Department of Labour, has been working with farmers from around the country over the last four years.

Research released today evaluating the strategy shows farmers have embraced the fresh approach to farm health and safety.

"Our aim was to empower farmers and make them aware of the factors which lead to workplace injury and death in our agricultural industry," said Ron Ward, OSH National Agricultural Co-ordinator.

"The campaign focused on dairy, beef and sheep farming and targeted farm vehicles, machinery, livestock handling and health issues.

"The national strategy has involved about 40 percent of the 8700 farmers in defined locations throughout New Zealand.

"Not only was there breadth of coverage but over 53 percent of these farmers described information given to them by OSH as useful and effective.

"Making our farms safer and more productive involves strengthening the relationships between farmers, industry and OSH."

The agricultural industry produces about 55 per cent of New Zealand’s exports and make up a significant proportion of the workforce. The strategy, from developing the information to delivering it, was a joint initiative of OSH, Federated Farmers, Rural Women in New Zealand, Young Farmers, the Agricultural Industry Training Organisation, MAF and ACC.

"The evaluation illustrates the positive outcome that working in consultation with industry can achieve," said Roger Barton, board member, Federated Farmers.

"This approach taken in the OSH strategy is strongly supported by Federated Farmers as being the best way to increase awareness of health and safety issues and solutions in the agricultural sector.