The Hidden Crisis: Rethinking Safety in Australian Agriculture

Australia’s agricultural industry is one of the country’s proudest and most enduring sectors. Farmers have long been seen as the backbone of the nation—feeding, clothing, and fuelling communities while enduring some of the harshest conditions on Earth. But behind the pastoral romanticism lies a confronting truth: Australian agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in the country. With a troubling rise in fatalities and injuries, both documented and undocumented, the safety crisis in agriculture has reached a tipping point.

This article explores the realities of agricultural safety in Australia by examining the statistics, uncovering the reasons behind these issues, and proposing a way forward that acknowledges both human cost and practical pathways to change.

The Grim Statistics

The most recent data paints a sobering picture:

• Suicide: According to National Rural Health Alliance and research supported by Beyond Blue, a farmer dies by suicide approximately every 10 days in Australia. Mental health challenges in remote and rural communities remain complex and often hidden.
• Fatalities: In 2024, 72 farmers lost their lives due to on-farm accidents. This equates to one death every 5.1 days, a significant increase from the 32 fatalities in 2023 (around one every 11.4 days), according to AgriFutures.
• Documented Injuries: Official records show that in 2024 there were 133 non-fatal on-farm injuries, an average of one every 2.7 days. These are serious incidents requiring hospitalisation or emergency response.
• Undocumented Injuries: Perhaps most alarming is the estimated volume of unreported injuries. Drawing from previous research by Safe Work Australia and international comparisons, it’s believed that up to 75% of non-fatal farm injuries go unreported. This puts the real number at over 532 injuries in 2024 alone. Historical data from Safe Work’s 2009–10 survey suggested a staggering 17,400 work-related injuries in agriculture annually, translating to 47 per day.

Together, these statistics reflect an agricultural landscape where risk is not just common but almost expected—a reality that needs to change.

Why Are Farms So Dangerous?

The causes of these incidents are multifaceted and complex, but several consistent factors emerge:

1. Workplace Environment: Farms are inherently risky. Quad bikes, tractors, water sources, electrical infrastructure, chemicals, and animals present unique hazards. Weather events, rugged terrain, and remote locations add another layer of danger.
2. Lone Work: A significant portion of farming tasks are done alone, often in isolated locations far from help. In emergencies, time is critical—and time is often lost.
3. Culture of Stoicism: Farming culture often values independence, self-reliance, and toughness. Injuries are downplayed, and there’s a general resistance to reporting incidents or seeking mental health support.
4. Invisibility of Family Labour: Many injuries happen to people not officially counted as workers—like spouses, children, or elderly family members helping out. These injuries are seldom reported.
5. Lack of Regulation and Oversight: Unlike urban industries, agriculture is under-regulated in many areas. Small family operations may not have formal safety policies or training programs.
6. Age and Equipment: Older farmers make up a growing percentage of the workforce, and many are using older, potentially unsafe machinery. The physical demands of the job increase injury risk as farmers age.
7. Weather and Environmental Stress: Increasingly volatile weather due to climate change adds stress to daily operations and puts physical and mental strain on those working the land.

The Mental Health Connection

Beyond physical safety, mental health remains an undercurrent in every aspect of farming safety. Financial stress, social isolation, long hours, and uncertainty about weather and commodity prices compound psychological strain.

According to research by the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health and National Centre for Farmer Health, rural men are less likely to seek help, even when they know services are available. Suicide among male farmers is disproportionately high, and compounded by the cultural expectation to ‘push through.’

Safety Isn’t Just About Compliance—It’s About People

One of the biggest barriers to improving farm safety is the perception that safety is about red tape. But safety, when properly approached, is about protecting people—not just workers, but families, neighbours, and communities.

Farm safety shouldn’t be a once-a-year topic during National Farm Safety Week. It should be embedded in everyday operations—from planning seasonal work to choosing equipment and monitoring fatigue.

Technology Can Help—but Only if It’s Designed for Farmers

Emerging technology is beginning to make a difference. Products like AirAgri’s lone worker safety system, for example, are being developed specifically for agricultural conditions. These tools include:

• Real-time GPS tracking and accident detection
• Property-specific weather forecasting and alerts
• Duress alarms and check-in systems
• Remote monitoring and escalation workflows

However, technology adoption must be frictionless. Tools must be designed to function without mobile coverage, tolerate dust and weather, and be operable by users of all ages. Safety technology that adds complexity will fail—simplicity and reliability are key.

How Do We Shift the Narrative?

A cultural shift is required. The goal is not just fewer injuries, but safer, more sustainable farming families. Here’s how we start:

1. Change the Conversation: Reframe safety around protecting legacies, families, and futures—not compliance or paperwork.
2. Education Through Storytelling: Use real stories from real farms. Hearing how one farmer avoided tragedy—or sadly didn’t—can have more impact than a policy document.
3. Normalise Reporting: Injuries and near-misses must be reported without stigma. We need national campaigns that make reporting part of the culture.
4. Government Incentives: Subsidies or rebates for safety equipment, mental health services, and connectivity solutions can support safer farming.
5. Rural Health Integration: Treat mental and physical safety as interconnected. Community health programs should include agricultural safety.
6. Youth and Training: Agriculture’s future depends on the next generation. Make safety a core part of all ag training and education programs.

The Cost of Doing Nothing

Behind every statistic is a name, a face, and a grieving family. A child who never came home. A neighbour who lost a limb. A farmer who made it through drought but not through another harvest.

We must stop accepting fatalities and injuries as the price of farming. Agriculture is a tough industry, yes—but it shouldn’t be fatal. With renewed focus, practical tools, cultural change, and support from industry and government, we can make farming safer.

Because the real backbone of Australian agriculture isn’t the land—it’s the people who work it. Let’s start protecting them like they matter.

Sources:

• AgriFutures Australia: [Non-intentional Farm-Related Incidents in Australia 2024 Report]
• Safe Work Australia: [Work-related Injuries and Fatalities on Farms 2009–10]
• National Centre for Farmer Health
• National Rural Health Alliance
• Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health
• Beyond Blue
• ABC News, Sheep Central, Better Health Victoria