Farm-related injury deaths in Australia (2001-20)

Objective: To describe the agents, pattern and trends of unintentional farm fatalities in Australia (2001-2020). Methods: Review of study of National Coronial Information System data. Design: Descriptive. Setting: Australia (2001-2020). Participants: All cases involving fatal work and non-work injury events on a farm. Main outcome measures: Patterns and agents of injury events, with trends for all-cause deaths based on rates per 10 000 farms and work-related incidents (per 100 000 workers and 1 000 000 h worked). Results: There were 1584 unintentional farm fatalities (annual mean 79). Two-thirds of cases were work-related (68%). Major agents of injury were farm vehicles (39%) and machinery (26%). Persons aged over 55 years were involved in 58% of all work-related incidents and were significantly more likely to die than younger cohorts when assessed against hours worked. Death rates involving all on-farm fatal incidents (both work and non-work) per 10 000 farms (p = 0.015) and work-related rates per 100 000 workers (p = 0.015) reduced over the period, with both demonstrating a fluctuating rate. There was no change in the work-related rates when assessed against hours worked (p = 0.276). Conclusion: Over the period, the annualised number of deaths fell by approximately 24% (98-75), with agents of injury remaining similar. General trends suggest a reduction in the overall death rates for work and non-work incidents. However, trends were less apparent when the reduction of farms (similar to 19%), workers (similar to 7%) and hours worked (no change), were accounted for. Targeted approaches are required to stimulate improvements in these preventable incidents.

Automated summary

This study aimed to describe the agents, pattern, and trends of unintentional farm fatalities in Australia. The findings revealed that farm vehicles and machinery were the major agents of injury, and individuals over the age of 55 had a significantly higher death rate in work-related incidents compared to younger cohorts. Overall, there was a reduction in death rates for both work and non-work incidents; however, these trends were less apparent after accounting for changes in the number of farms and hours worked. Targeted approaches are necessary to prevent these preventable incidents.