Farmers asked to have a safe Christmas and plan for safe 2022

Minister Humphreys urged all farmers to take time over the Christmas period to review the safety of their farms

Minister Heather Humphreys has urged farmers to keep safety to the forefront of their minds when working on farms over the Christmas and New Year period.

To date there have been nine fatal accidents on farms in 2021. While this is an improvement on recent years, it is still nine farms that have suffered an irreversible loss, she says.

“Now is the time for all farmers to reflect on 2021 and plan ahead for 2022. It is only through a cultural change on farms to one that focuses on safe behaviours and practices that the rate of serious and fatal incidents can be reduced further.”

Minister Humphreys urged all farmers to take time over the Christmas period to review the safety of their farms.

Farmers, she adds, should consider updating their Farm Risk Assessment which helps to identify and address risks on farms.

“We all need to ask ourselves: How many of the identified risks did I deal with over the last year? What risks that have been identified in the risk assessment will I address this year? Does the risk assessment reflect all the risks on my farm?”

Minister Humphreys concluded by wishing all farm families and happy, safe and peaceful Christmas and best wishes for the new year.