Uninvestigated accidents cost farms millions

By FWi staff

FAILURE to investigate how or why accidents happen is costing farmers 46 million in lost work days every year, according to risk management consultants Smithson Mason Group.

The firm estimates that over 20% of farm businesses fail to investigate how or why accidents have occurred.

Under current health and safety rules, employers are not required to carry out an internal investigation after an incident in the workplace.

However, as part of a government plan to reduce the number of working days lost due to work-related injuries by 30% by 2010, employers will be duty bound to establish the cause of any accidents and make recommendations to ensure they do not recur.

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