In 2017 there were 68 farm deaths across Australia and Kubota wants to to help bring this number down by urging farmers to take the proper precautions to keep them and their families safe.

Kubota Australia engineering manager Benjamin Binns said farmers should review the safety measures they take on their farming operations.

“Farm safety is an inherent part of running any farming business. Not only is farming safe the right thing to do, it is good business,” Mr Binns said.

“On top of the potentially tragic personal impacts, farming accidents can be devastating for a farming operation, hindering a farm’s ability to operate, affecting productivity and earnings.

“We carry out extensive risk assessment processes on every piece of equipment before it reaches any Australian farm. We know that we have a responsibility to our customers to provide the best equipment with the highest safety standards,” he said.

Kubota’s risk assessment process includes a detailed audit of all imported equipment to identify potential hazards, reduce these hazards as far as practicable, and ensure it meets all Australian standards and regulatory requirements.

“While we do everything we can before equipment reaches a farm, we also want to make sure that farmers are taking every step they can to keep themselves and their families safe when working in and around their farm,” Mr Binns said.

Farmsafe Australia chairman Charles Armstrong said it was important all Australian farmers were focused, alert, and prepared when operating equipment.

“Having safety as a major aspect of our business will not only reduce risks to those who work and live on our farms, it will also improve our bottom line. Safe farms are profitable farms” Mr Armstrong said.

“We want to see every farm across Australia take steps to improve safety every day.”

Kubota Australia encourages farmers to keep the following tips in mind to avoid accidents when operating equipment and machinery:

1. Ensure everyone is familiar with the machinery and complies with the instructions.

2. Wear appropriate protective clothing. Thongs, loose hair, and baggy clothing can lead to serious injuries.

3. Fatigue can be very dangerous when operating machinery, so take breaks when you need to.

4. Stay alert when using farm equipment.

5. Maintain machinery to manufacturer’s guidelines and recommendations.

6. Keep children away from farm areas while using equipment.