Accidents happen, especially on farm – but that doesn't mean we have to accept the status quo.
Our Regional Champion Roger Barton recently joined Blue Shed Diary's From the Field podcast for an episode titled Farm Safety from the Ground Up. Roger is a Wairarapa sheep and beef farmer, Nuffield Scholar and former provincial President of Federated Farmers, and he brings a practical, farmer-first perspective to the conversation.
Earlier this year, Safer Farms selected three Regional Champions to share their safety experiences with others in the industry. The thinking is simple: farmers listen to farmers. Hearing from someone who has walked the same paddocks and faced the same pressures carries real weight.
The episode also covers the work Safer Farms does alongside farmers, growers, industry organisations such as PGG Wrightson, government and safety experts to reduce risk across the sector – because everyone deserves to get home safely after a day on the tools.
One practical takeaway: slips and trips are one of the leading causes of injury on farms. A simple step you can take today is making sure your footwear is up to the job.
