National Farm Safety Week back for 2026

The theme for this year’s National Farm Safety Week focuses on the importance of leading by example.

The national initiative starts next week and follows 245 compensation claims made by workers in the agricultural industry in the 2025/26 financial year, down from 313 in 2024/25.

Worksafe Tasmania said claims for wounds, lacerations, amputations and internal organ damage had the largest number of claims (64), followed by musculoskeletal and connective tissue disease claims (53) and traumatic joint/ligament and muscle/tendon injury (46).

Since 2015, there have been 20 farm-related fatalities recorded in Tasmania, with the majority involving males aged over 60 years.

Stuart Beams from Safe Farming Tasmania (SFT) said the week was a great opportunity to raise awareness.

“The very nature of farm work means it is high-risk, which is why farm safety must be an ongoing and open conversation,” Mr Beams said.

“The standard you walk past is the standard you choose to accept.

“That’s why we encourage farmers to think about and talk about safety every day.

“Every day, the way we do things—whether we cut corners or do the job properly—is being observed and adopted by those around us.”

This year’s theme is “Set the Standard: Show ‘em how it’s done”.

Mr Beams said it is about the role people play in shaping what’s normal on farm.

“This campaign is about leading by example, calling out the small decisions that matter, and demonstrating what safe, practical farming looks like in real life.

“When safe behaviours become the norm, they help create stronger, more resilient farming businesses and communities.”