FARMERS know all too well the dangers of working with machinery.
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In the last three years, almost 5500 NSW farmers have been injured at work and had to claim workers compensation.
WorkCover NSW has teamed up with partners across the industry, including CWA of NSW and NSW Farmers Association to help farmers stay alive and well.
The Alive and Well campaign was launched at the NSW Farmers Association site at AgQuip on Wednesday by WorkCover NSW chief executive Peter Dunphy, NSW Farmers Association president Fiona Simson, CWA of NSW president Tanya Cameron, Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson and farmer Mark Master.
The campaign shines a light on some of the most common causes of injury and illness, and provides a way for people to share their stories and tips.
Mark Master, a fifth-generation stock and grain farmer from Tamworth, is a feature of the campaign after an incident with an auger last year that left him with serious injuries, and very nearly cost him his life.
“I really reassessed my situation around the farm afterwards,” Mr Master said.
“You just have to be really careful, if I didn’t have my mobile phone or my mum didn’t answer the call – I wouldn’t be alive.”
In March this year, WorkCover NSW approached Mr Master to be a face of their campaign.
“When WorkCover approached me to promote the campaign, I thought this is great – this is a chance for me to turn something that was bad into something good,” Mr Master said.
“If you can stop someone else from having a severe accident or disability and reduce the numbers it’s a good thing – this is what we want to do.”
NSW Farmers Association president Fiona Simson said the campaign was a fantastic opportunity to promote sustainable and safer farming practices.
“It doesn’t always have to be a big stick approach,” Ms Simson said.
“The best way is to take up these initiatives that improve the way we do business and improve the safety of our communities.
“The rate of accidents is going down on farms and it’s incredibly important – major injury and deaths on farm is a terrible thing.”
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson commended the campaign and said farm safety was of upmost importance.
“The north-west isn’t immune with 20 per cent of all farming injuries occurring in the region,” Mr Anderson said.
“Alive and Well has been launched to build knowledge in the farming community so that everyone on the farm works closely together to improve safety and wellbeing.
“The campaign focuses on six areas of farm work and features real farmers that have experienced or narrowly escaped serious injury on their farms, telling their story and giving advice on how to stay safe.
“By sharing their experiences and tips on farm safety, it’s hoped that more farmers make their farms safer.”
The CWA of NSW will promote the campaign throughout its activities in September.
For more information about Alive and Well and to see more of Mark’s story and others, visit www.aliveandwell.net.au