Having spent the last 20 years of my working life in Occupational Health and Safety in heavy industry and now living in a rural community, I can see first hand the continuing fight to get people to assume some responsibility for their own safety.

Farmers and graziers have to look at their operations as a business and not something exclusive and different.

All the pointers of OH&S apply to every workplace and that means farms!! The exact scenario may be different but the same rules apply.

Some farmers do watch their OH&S but sadly too many don’t. It is up to them to attend seminars that are conducted around the countryside and act on what information is given to them.

Many also have employees who suffer because of the ignorance of the employer and it is only a matter of time before much larger payouts are given for worker’s comp claims.

Workers comp at the time is paid by the Insurance Company but the premiums generally, as well as individually, go up further each year.

Working safer is much better than having to make a claim.

As for more money being spent on yet another group doing surveys; that is a waste of time and money – the information is there for all to act on.

Money spent on an education campaign with information given in simple language and printed in local and rural papers would be a better idea. Give the decibel readings of equipment used; give the information on what hearing protection should be used and how to use it.

Often, people purchase hearing protection and think they are okay – too often they are not covered correctly.

Maryann Streeter

Address supplied by witheld on the author’s request