EMPL702 - OHS in Agriculture: Accident Analysis, Prevention, NZ

This report examines occupational health and safety (OHS) in the agricultural sector, particularly in New Zealand, where agriculture constitutes a significant portion of the land and workforce. Agriculture is identified as one of the most hazardous occupational sectors, with high rates of injuries, fatalities, and work-related illnesses. The report reviews literature on fatal accident rates, contributing factors, and awareness of OHS policies. It highlights the prevalence of accidents involving vehicles like all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and quad bikes, as well as heavy machinery. Factors contributing to these accidents include vehicle operation, lack of safety measures, and long working hours. The report also emphasizes the need for improved OHS standards, especially for vulnerable populations like rural workers, children, women, and the elderly. Recommendations are provided to minimize accident risks and promote worker wellbeing in the agricultural sector, focusing on strategies to improve and meet the OSH accidental risks that are common in the agriculture sector.

Running head: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN AGRICULTURE
Occupational health and safety in agriculture
Name of the student:
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1OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN AGRICULTURE
Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................2
Identify OHS: Accidents in agricultural industry:...........................................................................3
Review of literature:........................................................................................................................6
Fatal accidents of the agricultural sector:....................................................................................6
Contributing factors behind the fatal accidents:..........................................................................8
Awareness among the agricultural workforce:..........................................................................10
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................12
Summary:.......................................................................................................................................13
Conclusion:....................................................................................................................................16
References:....................................................................................................................................17

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Introduction:
Close to 42.22% of the total land of New Zealand can be attributed to agricultural land;
hence inevitably, a large considerable workforce of the nation can be attributed to the farmers.
However, it has to be mentioned that the importance of the agricultural workforce contribute a
significant to the total GDP of the nation and hence there is need for this workforce to be safe
and functional. It has to be mentioned in this context that there are various occupational health
and safety risks that are prevalent in the agricultural sector, and a vast majority of them are fatal
accidents leading to various critical and life threatening injuries (Van den Broucke & Colémont,
2011).
Hence, it has to be mentioned in this context that agriculture has significant risks to
health and safety of the workforce employed in this field. Now, occupational health and safety
has acknowledged the agricultural industry to be one of the most hazardous occupational sectors.
According to the recent report, a large number of agricultural workers have to suffer from
different occupational accidents and ill health every year. It has to be mentioned that agricultural
sectors provides the most of the basic necessities of life, hence the demands of the agriculture
industry is also extremely high as well (Asfaw, Pana-Cryan & Rosa, 2011). Hence close to a
billion workers are employed in the agricultural sector worldwide, contributing to more than one
third of the entire labour force of the world. Although, it has to be mentioned in this context as
well, that this occupational sector also accounts for more than 70% of the entire child labour of
the world. With the agricultural sector being one of the most hazardous one, the risk for fatal
accidents are even higher for the children associated with this workforce (Fathallah, 2010). This
assignment will attempt to research and explore the risk of fatal accidents in the agricultural

3OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY IN AGRICULTURE
sectors and the occupational health and safety risk of the agricultural workforce, and would like
to conclude with a set of occupational health and safety recommendations to minimize the
accident risks with respect to the New Zealand demographics.
Identify OHS: Accidents in agricultural industry:
Among all the economic sectors, agriculture is one of the most hazardous of all. With the
higher rates of injuries, accidental deaths, and work-related diseases or illness, the agriculture
sector is the most unsafe sector to work in. The sector places the workers at potential risks of
work-related accidents and musculoskeletal disorders. Working with trunk bendings, lifting and
carrying heavy loads, risking from trips or falls at uneven walkways, vibrations from farm
vehicles and chainsaws are some of the main hazards that result in higher risks of accidents in
the agricultural sector (Botha et al., 2014).The importance of agriculture is immense due to its
contribution to the social, political, cultural and economic sector of the world. Hence, improving
health and safety at the agricultural workplace is essential. According to the occupational health
and safety act, each and every worker in the workplace is subject to mental, social and physical
wellbeing. The safety and health of Agricultural convention 2001(No. 184) and ILO
recommendation provides further guidance on appropriate strategies to improve and meet the
OSH accidental risks that are common in the agriculture sector (Neal, 2017).Some of the major
forms of accidents in the agricultural sectors of New Zealand are Tracker accidents, Quad bike
accidents and accidents by All-terrain vehicles.
The below figure explains the rate of accidents in different sectors of employment in New
Zealand from 2011 to 2017.The indigo blue line explains the highest rate of workplace-related
accidents in the agricultural sector due to Quad bikes.

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Figure: 1 Source: (Klingelschmidt et
al., 2018)
According to the WorkSafe data, the
deadliest industry of New Zealand is
the agricultural industry (Schweder et
al.,2015).With a high number of
death rates in the past six years, the
agricultural industry of New Zealand is the most threatening and risky industry. The causes of
the fatalities have been increasing throughout and questioning the OSH norms in the agricultural
sector.

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Figure: 2 Source: (Anderson & Tipples, 2014)
The above figure is an example of the increased number of death caused due to quad bike
accidents on various agricultural farms of New Zealand. Exposure to hazardous chemicals and
heavy machineries constitute one of the main risk in the occupation at this sector. Accidents in
this sector affects the working environment and the personal lives of the victims. The cost of
accidents in the agriculture sector are associated with high rates of injuries and workplace related
ill health (Lilley,Lower & Davie, 2017).The accidents have negative effects on the workplace
environment and on the production of the agricultural farms. Some of the major hazards in
agricultural farm of New Zealand are transmissible animal disease, exposure to toxic and
hazardous chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers and ergonomic hazards in the agricultural farm.
The OSH problem of workplace accidents in the agricultural farms of New Zealand has
been chosen in this paper since it is one of the most neglected sectors of employment in the
nation. Most of the agricultural farm employ people from rural areas, child, and old aged people
are more prone to fatal accidents in the farm due to higher working hours, exposure to hazardous
and dangerous conditions and risky work levels. Illiteracy and poverty are the main causes
people join agricultural farms. Besides, this sector of New Zealand is the largest sector for
female employment. The OSH standards that have been affecting the women employers have
been neglected and underestimated throughout these years (Anderson & Tipples, 2014). This

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paper thus takes into consideration all the valid factors and dimensions of OSH in agriculture
that needs to be improved for the wellbeing of the workers.
Review of literature:
A review of literature can be defined as the potent tool that helps in conducting a
systematic and scientific exploration of the ideas and concepts already published in authentic and
relevant journals to arrive at a clear understanding of the different external and internal factors
associated with the scenario. For this study, the chosen occupational health issue had been the
fatal accidents in the agricultural sectors, hence the literature review will attempt to discover the
different fatal accident rates of the agricultural sector, the contributing factors behind the fatal
accidents, and the general idea in the sector behind the impact of fatal accidents and need for a
occupational health and safety policy or program among the different stakeholders.
Fatal accidents of the agricultural sector:
Farmers are considered to be a relatively small proportion of the total labour force in
many nations however, it has to be mentioned that agricultural still ranks fairly high in the list of
occupational injury rates among the other occupational sectors. The health hazard of this
occupational sector is not limited to the accidents or injuries only; there are other health and
disease risks for the agricultural workers as well. According to Jadhav et al. (2015), the injury
rates among this sector are extremely high, and the injuries due to the accidents are the most
important cause behind the mortality risk among the farmers across the world as well. As
mentioned by Jadhav et al. (2015), considering the global rates, it can be mentioned in this

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context that fatal injury rates in the agricultural sector varied from 11.5 to 30.6 per 100000
agricultural workers across different nations and similarly non fatal injury rates in the
agricultural rates ranges from 3.5 to 16 injuries per 100 workers annually. Hence it can be
mentioned that the risk for the fatal injuries are far higher in case of the agricultural injuries as
well (Akdur et al., 2010).
Exploring the different types of injuries that are associated with the agricultural health
and safety, it can be mentioned that the most notable injuries are associated with vehicle
operations and heavy machinery. According to Shulruf & Balemi (2010), the most of the
agricultural accidents are associated with the all terrain vehicle operations. As per the data
identified in the article, the use of all terrain vehicles has been very prominent in agriculture
since the last few decades. Undoubtedly, the contribution of the all terrain vehicles is extreme in
case of the agricultural productivity and performance undoubtedly, however, the fact cannot be
ignored that the use of these vehicles are the cause of the majority of the agricultural accidents.
The article has discussed that this particular vehicle accidents are the case of a high percentage of
fatality and mortality among the agricultural workers. As highlighted in the article, ever since the
introduction of the all terrain vehicles in the agricultural sector is extremely high in case of the
New Zealand demographics. The incidence rate of the all terrain vehicle related incidents have
been very high at 8% to 19% of the total number of agricultural fatal accidents. Along with those
ATV injuries, driving Quad bikes have also been discovered as one of the greatest reasons
behind the fatal accident rates among the agricultural workforce as well (Leigh, Du & McCurdy,
2014).
Quad bikes or the all terrain vehicles have been discovered as one of the greatest
contributing factors in several other research studies as well. It has to be mentioned that

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according to Milosavljevic et al. (2011), the quad bikes or the all terrain vehicles are the most
widely used agricultural equipment used in the agricultural industry of the New Zealand as well.
This particular equipment is highly advantageous for livestock farming and many other essential
farming operations as well. According to Nilsson, Pinzke and Lundqvist (2010), the use of this
particular equipment is in checking stock, mustering, feeding out, personal transport and for
carriage and towing activities. However, as defined by Milosavljevic et al. (2011), quad bike loss
of control events can be considered for the most frequent and most major cause of fatality and
death in agricultural context. Comparison of the data on quad bike accidents reveal that while
Australia had 51 deaths recorded within the last few couples of years due to quad bike loss of
control, New Zealand had 45 deaths. Along with that, according to the survey reports, there had
been close to 1500 new accident cases being reported in the New Zealand territory due to all
terrain vehicle accidents (Milosavljevic et al., 2011). Another source of fatal accidents in the
agricultural sector had been the operation of the heavy machinery. According to Kolstrup, 2012,
many lower back injuries have been reported by the agricultural workforce have been due to
heavy machinery lifting and livestock bearing with any personal protection. Although, as per the
research, the frequency or magnitude of the fatal accidents is far more severe in case of the all
terrain vehicle accidents (Canton & Williams, 2012)
Contributing factors behind the fatal accidents:
In order to identify the occupational health and safety risks in the agricultural sector,
especially for the fatal accidents, the contributing factors leading of the occurrence of the fatal
accidents is required to be explored. First and foremost, it has to be mentioned here that the most
of the fatal accidents that occur in the agricultural fields are contributed by the vehicles like the
all terrain vehicles or quad bikes. The contributing factor behind the quad bikes accidents is

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many. According to Milosavljevic et al. (2011), quad bikes can be considered very inherently
unstable equipment in general and the agronomical design of the equipment is the main reason
behind the high rates of fatal accidents that it is associated with. As per Karttunen and Rautiainen
(2013), the narrow wheel base of the vehicle and high centre of gravity makes the equipment
very easy to be tipped over on steep, rough or even uneven terrains. High velocity and vibration
exposure have also been discovered as the contributing factor behind the high rate of the
accidents associated with the quad bike accidents. However, Robert, Elisabeth and Josef (2015),
have argued that steep terrain and striking with another object has been discovered as highly
relevant causes behind the high rates of all terrain vehicle accidents, however the agronomical
design of the vehicle and the combination of increased speed and vibration while driving the
vehicle has also been discovered as the important reasons behind the incidence rate of the
injuries. One the other hand, the article by the Tangermann (2011), in their research have
discovered another impactful contributing factor behind the occupational health and safety risk
associated with operating this agricultural equipments. In this article lack of training of operating
these vehicles has been discussed. On a more elaborative note, it has to be mentioned that al
terrain vehicles are undoubtedly an innovative introduction to the agricultural fields for the
benefit of easing the procedure of different agricultural tasks; it has to be acknowledged that
operation of this complex vehicles successful and safely can be a challenge for the rural farmers.
The technological challenges of the older farmers belonging to the rural areas have been
acknowledged in the literature before and the technological inadequacy leads to not being able to
operate the al terrain vehicles as well to some extent.
According to the Hosseini et al. (2011), however, all terrain vehicle sellers issue a free of
cost training for the farmers to attend to learn to operate the vehicle with safety. Although, it has

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to be mentioned that the likelihood of the individuals to enrol themselves into the training
program is less than even 4% . It can be concluded from this context that the lack of willingness
of the agricultural workforce of the concerned demographics to attend the training programs are
indicating of the alarming lack of literacy and awareness regarding the occupational health and
safety risk among the agricultural workforce.
Awareness among the agricultural workforce:
As discussed above, the agricultural workforce has a few different health risks and among
them the fatal accidents are the most impactful. As per the research conducted it has been
discovered that the fatal accidents in case of the New Zealand demographics, the most notable
accident cause has been discovered the all terrain vehicles or the quad bikes. Now as discovered
in the article by Hosseini et al. (2011), the authors had discussed that the level of awareness
among the agricultural workforce regarding the occupational health safety can be associated with
the alarming lack of willingness to attend the al terrain vehicle terrain. There is a significant lack
of awareness and understanding among the farmers regarding the occupational health and safety.
Along with that there is a significant lack of awareness and understanding regarding the
occupational health and safety risks in the agriculture and the requirements of protective
measures regarding the risky vehicles like the quad bikes.
According to the Wood, Duijff and Christey (2013), it had to be mentioned that the
highest lack of awareness of literacy regarding the occupational health and safety is most
frequently observed in the older framers. Along with that, the child labour associated with the
agriculture in these regions is also associated with the lack of awareness and understanding. This
leads directly to the increased number of accidents and fatal injuries in the agricultural sectors, in
both developing and developed nations. According to the study by Tipples et al. (2013), it can be

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mentioned that in the New Zealand demographics there is a highly strict and rigid stance of the
farmers regarding the occupational health and safety issues and guidelines. There can be a few
contributing factor behind this; first and foremost, it has to be mentioned that the farmers are
disadvantaged by the socio-economic isolation and their occupational status from the rest of the
mainstream society. Along with that, their remoteness from the enforcement of labour standards
contributes effectively to the generation of a rather reluctantly compliant agricultural workforce
in New Zealand. Along with that, it has to be mentioned that the lack of knowledge regarding the
mainstream technologies and safety benefits of the OHS protocols can also be a cause to their
apparent noncompliance as well. Although the data from the articles point at the attitude of the
farmers and agricultural work force of New Zealand and the surrounding areas, the scenario is
very similar in the rest of the globe as well (Pawlak & Nowakowicz-Dębek, 2015).
Overall, the extensive research discovered many key factors behind the fatal injuries in
the agricultural sector. The articles selected in the literature review had been effective in
discovering the key fatal accident issue in the agricultural issue, the all terrain vehicle accidents
that caused a large chunk of the injuries and hospitalization episodes among the agricultural
workforce of New Zealand. The articles have provided relevant information regarding the risks
to occupational health and safety due to the agronomic design of the vehicle, physical factors
pertaining to the terrain and the farmer, and the awareness and knowledge among the farmers.
This helped us identify the challenges behind the health and safety risk behind the accidents
caused by the quad bikes. However, it also has to be mentioned in this context that there are a
few research gaps left behind that is needed to be addressed by further studies in this sector. First
and foremost, there is lack of information available on the literature previously published
regarding the impact of heavy weight lifting o the physiology of the farmers and whether it