WFI Insurance last week released its annual farm accident insights as part of Farmsafe Australia’s ‘2025 Safer Farms Report’, to help reduce injuries and save lives in farming communities.
The Report coincided with Farmsafe Australia’s 2025 National Farm Safety Week, which is themed ‘Second Chances – Who Knows How Many You’ll Get’.
2024 was a devastating year for Australian farming communities. The industry suffered its highest number of fatalities in more than two decades, with 72 lives lost.
As one of Australia’s leading rural insurers, WFI sees firsthand the life changing impacts of farming accidents. It shares its insights to raise awareness of farming risks and incidents, to reduce injuries and fatalities on farms.
“We are proud to sponsor this year’s Safer Farms Report, a potentially lifesaving resource for anyone working on or living on a farm,”
WFI executive general manager Damien Gallagher said.
“A momentary lapse in concentration can change a life forever. We see how quickly farming accidents can happen and the tragic long-term impacts. Speed, rushed
tasks, fatigue and safety shortcuts are often catalysts for accidents.”
Over the past 12 months, WFI has seen an overall eight per cent reduction in farm related claims, however, impact related claims such as vehicle accidents or crush injuries, have surged 44 per cent – the highest level in four years.
There were 1800 claims related to farm vehicle accidents, including quad bikes and side-by-side vehicles (SSVs), with many resulting in life altering injuries such as neck and spinal fractures, and brain trauma.
According to the report, SSVs have overtaken both tractors and quad bikes as the leading cause of on-farm fatalities in a single year. In 2024, more people lost their lives in incidents involving SSVs than any other type of machinery or vehicle.
“Familiarity can be fatal. Tools and machinery we use every day remain dangerous, no matter how experienced we are. Complacency sets in, and that’s where near misses come from,” chair of Farmsafe Australia, Felicity Richards said.
“We are not powerless in the face of risk. We have choices, every day. And every time we choose to speak up, change a process, or rethink a job, we give ourselves and those we care about another second chance.”
The mental health and wellbeing of farmers continues to be a key concern. WFI has seen a 75 per cent increase in workers compensation claims relating to anxiety and stress over the past year.
While not covered in the Report, the suicide rate among Australian farmers is almost 59 per cent higher than the general population. On average, a farmer dies by suicide every 10 days.
Other farming risks include extreme weather events, which continue to increase in frequency and severity, with natural peril related claims increasing 18 per cent over the past three years. Farm property fires were up 28 per cent during the same period.
Spreading the safety message is critical to creating safer farms. WFI local area representatives, who live and work in the rural communities they serve, will be speaking with their clients about the Report’s findings and critical safety messages.
