Media Releases
Farming: New Zealand's Deadliest Industry
Thursday 9 October 1997
More New Zealanders die undertaking farm work than in any other industry, the Occupational Safety and Health Service of the Department of Labour (OSH) announced today.
"For the 12 months to July 1 this year, OSH investigated 14 deaths on New Zealand’s farms," said OSH spokesperson Lisa-Marie Richan. "Two deaths have occurred since then."
"It remains a sad and tragic fact that workplace accidents kill farm workers at seven and a half times the national average. Farming consistently exceeds both forestry and construction as the country’s most fatal occupation," Ms Richan said.
"The biggest killers on the farm today are farm vehicles, particularly tractor and All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) roll-overs, which account for three-quarters of the death toll on farms."
The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 puts the onus on the employer to take all practicable steps to identify and manage workplace hazards.
"At the national level, OSH will continue to work on joint initiatives with Federated Farmers and other farming groups on information dissemination and training," Ms Richan said. "At the provincial level, such as north of Auckland, OSH is forming partnerships with rural groups to focus on accident prevention."
"Families, communities and the whole country suffer greatly through workplace deaths. Farms are of particular concern as the place of work is often home, with children also figuring in the rural death toll."
"For example, between 1986-1991, there were 274 deaths on New Zealand’s farms, 46 of these were children," Ms Richan said. "It is time that we come together to stem this horrendous death toll. Zero can be a positive number for all of us."
