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Workcover Falls Regulations Flawed

New Workcover law not suited to agriculture and farming

Proposed regulations could cost farmers time and money, but may not necessarily improve farm safety.

By Hannah Thompson - 28th October 2002 - Back to News

The Victorian Farmers Federation believes proposed Falls From Heights Regulations will force farmers to change their work practices and make costly modifications to equipment, but won't improve overall farm safety.

If the regulations are introduced farmers will need to revise the way they access windmills and silos. Fruit picking from portable ladders and hay carting on open tray trucks could also be affected (more: http://www.vff.org.au/news/press/archive/news-525.asp).

"Its going to impact a lot on the profits for the farmer, with the current situation with the GST and predicted drought in the future, its going to…create a lot more work to implement these safety precautions," says Gippsland farmer, John Di Dio.

The VFF says the regulations, proposed by the Victorian Workcover Authority, are more suited to the construction and building industries than to agriculture (more: http://www.workcover.vic.gov.au/dir090/vwa/media.nsf/(docsbyUNID)/985987D6A92F03834A256BDA0026B4A7?Open). But Workcover says the regulations are all purpose, because falls from heights is an issue that affects all industries.

Barry Pratt, Director of Manufacturing and Agricultural Programs at Workcover, says the new regulations have been drafted in response to the "Significant number of people killed or injured across Victorian industry as a result of falls from heights".

But Alan Bowman, VFF Industrial Committee Chairman, says none of this year's five deaths on farms were caused by falls from heights.

Mr Bowman suggests education and training are more suitable remedies, because they increase farmers' awareness of safety issues and have been more successful than legislation in the past.

Workcover's Barry Pratt agrees education does increase awareness, but for farmers to implement safety measures, compliance action is necessary.

The VFF is calling for specific exemptions for the agriculture industry, or for the drafting of guidance notes to affect how the regulations are interpreted.

Workcover says it wants to minimise exemptions because they "complicate things," but is willing to discuss the issue further with the VFF to reach a compromise that will benefit the farming community.

Workcover hopes to have made necessary amendments and to introduce the regulations in October or November this year.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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