The State Government has allocated $600,000 to the Victorian Farmers Federation’s Making our Farms Safer project (VFF MOFS), ensuring the program can continue to run until 2025.
Now in its fourth year, the project continues to prevent injuries and death on farms by providing free support, up-skilling, and guidance to all Victorian farmers. Delivered through farm safety visits, community meetings, a monthly newsletter, and handbooks and resources, VFF MOFS assists and educates farmers to implement and maintain safety on their farms.
VFF Vice President Danyel Cucinotta welcomed the extension and said the project will help shift the dial towards zero on-farm deaths and injuries.
“The VFF MOFS project has been a vital and trusted resource for the farming community since 2020, and the team will hit the ground running to help reduce the overrepresentation of the agriculture industry in workplace deaths and injury,” she said.
“Farmers and our regional communities have told us loud and clear how important this project was to them, and I welcome the government’s commitment to helping us keep farmers safe.”
The VFF MOFS has identified several potential risks to farm safety, including mental health, fatigue, time management, repetitive action, financial burden, and heavy machinery.
With mental health a key concern, Ms Cucinotta said the project will hone in on the issue and offer support to all farmers.
“Mental health is an enormous, hidden burden confronting many farmers. The VFF MOFS project will develop and publish a handbook specifically made by our farmers, for our farmers,” she said.
The use of telehandlers has also been identified as a risk to safety and life, with two deaths recorded in the past three years.
As a result, earlier this year, WorkSafe Victoria announced that a new non-slewing telehandler high-risk work licence (TV licence) would be established, with the rollout of the new licensing beginning July 1, 2024.
Under the changes, operators of non-slewing telehandlers with a rated capacity greater than three tonnes will have the choice between completing tailored training to obtain the new telehandler licence, or a non-slewing mobile crane course to then apply for the existing non-slewing crane licence (CN licence).
Ms Cucinotta said the licensing would be supported by the VFF MOFS.
“The use of telehandlers on farms brings particular risks which are a key focus for the VFF. With the new options for telehandler licencing to rollout beginning in July, we’ll be working with farmers to help ensure they understand the requirements and dangers when operating or working around them,” she said.
“In 2022, over 40 per cent of all deaths on farms were tragically people aged over 60. This announcement means we’ll be able to continue the rollout of the recently launched ‘Stay Farming Longer and Safer’ handbook, aimed at farmers over 60.
“Nothing beats in-person, tailored safety advice to your farm. The team will be busy conducting on-farm safety visits and safety briefings, as well as attending field days and presenting to community groups throughout Victoria.”
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