Media Release

8 October 2009

New research confirms the importance of work in agriculture safety and health. The research by Otago University’s Injury Prevention Research Unit found that the rate of serious injuries and fatalities on New Zealand farms has remained high in contrast to declines in other industries over the past two decades.

The research – which was jointly commissioned by the Department of Labour, ACC and the Health Research Council of New Zealand – supports the Department of Labour’s current activities in the agriculture sector.

The Department’s Chief Adviser, Safety and Health, Dr Geraint Emrys says agriculture is a priority area for the Department and we continue to commit resources to improving health and safety outcomes for the industry. This research provides valuable insights into the identification of hazards, and barriers to the implementation of effective interventions.

The research confirms the importance of our current activities in agriculture to reduce the high toll of death and injury in this sector. All terrain vehicles (ATVs) and tractors are a leading cause of death and injury on New Zealand farms. “Evidence suggests that formal rider training and the wearing of helmets for ATVs, and roll over protection and the use of seatbelts for tractors are effective safety measures, but they are presently poorly used,” Dr Emrys says. “The Department will use the findings of the research to inform policy decisions and to better target operational interventions to make them more effective in reducing the injury and death toll in agriculture.”

ENDS

Note to Editor

The Department of Labour provides health and safety and employment relations services to workplaces. We aim to ensure that people in New Zealand’s workplaces are safe, healthy and well treated. The Department does this by lifting voluntary compliance and helping employers and employees improve workplace practices.  Where necessary we enforce legislation and hold people to account for failing to keep workers and workplaces safe.

Note to Editors: Health and Safety services formerly known as Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) should now be referred to as the Department of Labour.