Farm safety on the front foot

THE Victorian Farmers Federation’s Making our Farms Safer project (VFF MOFS) will continue to run until 2025 after receiving a $600,000 grant from the Victorian government.

VFF vice-president Danyel Cucinotta welcomed the extension and said the project, which launched in April 2020, will continue to 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,” Ms Cucinotta 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.”

Ms Cucinotta said the project would focus on four key areas to help ensure the safety of 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.

“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.”

In 2022, more than 40 per cent of all deaths on farms were tragically people aged over 60.

This announcement means the VFF will be able to continue the rollout of the recently launched “Stay Farming Longer and Safer” handbook, aimed at farmers over 60.

Ms Cucinotta said nothing beat in-person, tailored safety advice to your farm.

“The team will be busy conducting on-farm safety visits, safety briefings as well as attending field days and presenting to community groups throughout Victoria.”

For more information, head to makingourfarmssafer.org.au