Occupational health and safety (OHS)is a major issue of concern and cost to Australian agriculture.  The rate of work-related deaths and workers compensation claims ranks among the highest 2-3 industries Australia-wide, and the task of improving performance is complicated by the family business and widely scattered structure of the industry.  Previous and current work of the National Farm Injury Data Centre (NFIDC) and specific Commodity Reference Groups has established the key risk factors that are generic to most agricultural and horticultural enterprises and those that are specific to specific commodity production systems , and national projects are addressing key issues – tractor safety, farm machinery guarding, farm workshop safety, child safety, commodity programs, falls in older farmers.  There has been significant investment in farm OHS training and in exploring possible incentives for improved uptake of industry endorsed OHS risk management programs on farms. 

Little is known however, about the perceptions of, and attitudes to, safety on farms or how the increasing body of information about farm OHS is received and used on farms, what impediments and costs are associated with uptake and the practical benefits that accrue from increased attention to safety.

To address these issues, Ag Health and its Research Collaboration partners have commenced a longitudinal study of farm health and safety.  This project offers a unique opportunity to move from one-off, cross-sectional surveys and studies and use of grouped data, to engage more relevantly with a significant number of farmers and their families and workers over a period of time to gather information about the nature and scale of the OHS problem, the factors and impediments associated with adoption of OHS best practice, and the benefits and costs associated with maintenance of appropriate OHS risk management.

If you would like to take part in this unique opportunity, please contact the Ag Health on 02 6752 8210 or email aghealth@health.usyd.edu.au