ACC and Safer Farms announce new partnership
We’re partnering with Safer Farms to reduce harm in the agricultural sector, investing $11 million over the next five years to help keep our farmers free from injury.
Video courtesy of Safer Farms.
ACC and Safer Farms have announced a new partnership to reduce harm, injuries and fatalities in the agricultural sector.
The partnership will see over $11 million invested by ACC over the next five years, supporting the agriculture sector in the implementation of Safer Farms’ innovative grassroots ‘Farm Without Harm’ strategy.
Agriculture remains one of the most dangerous industries for New Zealanders to work in.
In 2024, ACC accepted over 17,116 new farming-related injury claims, and spent over $124 million to help people recover from farming-related injuries.
Safer Farms Chair Lindy Nelson says the investment is a significant boost to the programme, which has resonated with farmers since its launch in 2023.
“This support from ACC means we can amplify what we’ve already been doing, working with farming leaders and supporting farming people to protect each other from preventable harm,” she says.
“We’ll be investing additional resources into initiatives which are designed to change behaviours and foster a stronger safety culture on farms, enhance engagement, capability and capacity within the sector and empower sector leadership and collaboration to drive aligned and coordinated action.”
Andy Milne, ACC Deputy Chief Executive Strategy, Engagement and Prevention, and Safer Farms Chair Lindy Nelson.
ACC driving positive change
Andy Milne, ACC Deputy Chief Executive Strategy, Engagement and Prevention, is equally enthused.
“We’re excited to enter a partnership together with Safer Farms,” he says.
“We’re committed to driving positive, enduring change for New Zealand’s agricultural sector and we believe Safer Farms is key to supporting that commitment.”
Safer Farms’ ‘Farm Without Harm’ strategy has been developed as a sector-wide commitment to drive practical changes that prevent physical and mental harm.
The key focus areas in the action plan are:
- Psychosocial risks resulting in diminished wellbeing
- Harm experienced while working in and around vehicles and mobile plant
- Muscular stress and injury caused by livestock handling
- Harm caused by exposure to agricultural chemicals and airborne risks
Creating safer farm environments
Andy says Safer Farms and ACC are focused on supporting the agriculture sector in ways that are practical, impactful and sustainable.
“We’re confident the investment will translate into safer practices and reduced risks on the ground,” he says.
“Safer Farms has already achieved significant progress in strengthening their leadership across the sector, built strong relationships, and focused on a by-farmers, for-farmers approach to drive sustained change.
“Under this new partnership, we’ll work with Safer Farms to coordinate, align and influence best practice, and encourage everyone on farms to work collaboratively to understand risks and potential harm, creating safer environments for all.”
To mark the launch of the partnership, Andy joined our Head of Injury Prevention Renee Graham and Workplace Safety Manager Paula Wood in visiting Lindy’s farm in the Wairarapa.
Lindy outlined how vehicles are a leading cause of fatalities on farms and how some of the most commonly seen injuries are slips, trips or livestock-related.
“There’s always going to be inherent risks in an industry that involves operating heavy machinery and handling livestock,” she says.
“But by working with farmers on how they can implement practical safety practices on their farm, we can help to mitigate those risks.”
More information
To find out more please go to the Farm Without Harm website.
