Farm fatalities fall 50p.c. in 10 years

Press, 12 July 1980, Page 21

Farm fatalities fall 50p.c. in 10 years

PA Dunedin The number of people killed in farm accidents in the last 10 years had dropped 50 per cent, but this was no reason for complacency, said Mr W. Simmers, the chief safety adviser with the rural safety section of the Accident Compensation Commission, addressing the annual conference of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers in Dunedin. The W.D.F.F. has cho-

sen “Rural women at risk” as its theme for 1930-81. The number of farm fatalities had fallen from an average of 66 in the years 1964 to 1969 to 29 last year, he said. Tractor accidents still accounted for between 40 per cent and 60 per cent of all deaths.

Rural women made up 6.5 per cent of the New Zealand population, and of this figure 79 per cent would do some work on the farm.

Last year SB7 women received claim payments from the commission for injuries suffered in falls, and a further 742 claimed for injuries suffered in vehicle accidents.

* The Accident Compensation Commission is running a publicity campaign this year to promote safety for rural women. The commission will emphasise back strain and how it can be prevented. About 14 per cent of all claims made by rural women to the commission last year were for strained backs and muscles. ; *" Mr Simmers said research had shown that many accidents arose from a lack of knowledge and training. To try to overcome this problem courses were being run to teach svomen how to drive tractors safely. A remit carried by the conference called on the Accident Compensation Commission to recognise the contribution made by a wife io a working partnership and to alter the wording of the act accordingly. Rural women had found difficulty in obtaining compensation when they had been in’" ‘od and were unable to work on the farm, because their role as a work partner was not always recognised.

In most cases women had been able to claim only benefits paid to a housewife and not the additional benefit paid to a self-employed person, which was necessary to employ replacement labour.

A remit was also passed calling for a warning to be printed on chainsaws and similar noisy machinery, warning of'the danger of hearing damage and encouraging the wearing of ear protection by those using the machine and working nearby.