The rate of serious injury and fatalities on New Zealand farms has remained high despite declines in other industrial sectors over the past 20 years, a new study reveals.
And it is not just the Kiwi "she'll be right" attitude to blame.
Long work hours, working alone, uncomfortable safety gear, time and economic constraints, and working with equipment unsuited for New Zealand terrain all contributed to the sobering statistics, lead researcher Dr Kirsten Lovelock, of the University of Otago's Injury Prevention Research Unit, said.
The $400,000, two-year study was funded by ACC, the Department of Labour and the Health Research Council of New Zealand and looked at attitudes, behaviours and practices concerning farm safety.
Statistics and research from Australia, Western Europe and the United States were reviewed to provide a comparison with the New Zealand experience, and more than 300 farm owners and others from throughout this country were interviewed.
The study, the most comprehensive carried out in New Zealand, was released yesterday.
It showed many farmers and farm workers did not regularly use safety equipment even if it was available.
They said the equipment was uncomfortable to wear, they were in too much of a hurry, or in some reported cases, farmers were subject to social pressure not to don protective gear.
It also found although all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were used every day, only two respondents said they ever wore a seat belt.
The majority also left their keys in the ATV while unattended.
Children under 5 were riding on ATVs and farm vehicles as passengers, while children aged 5 to 9 were operating ATVs and motorcycles, playing near machinery and using firearms.
Farming families often had an "exaggerated idea" of the skills and abilities of their children, Dr Lovelock said.
"Five years old is too young to be driving an ATV, whether the child is a rural child or a town child."
The researchers asked why so many farmers and workers took risks, she said.
"Some of the legendary `she'll be right' attitude still persists, including an ingrained stoicism with regard to injury, especially among male respondents. A serious injury was one that killed you, many believed, or left you unable to work again.
"In the words of one man, a head injury was serious `if you ended up a cabbage'."
However, Dr Lovelock said it was unfair to characterise farmers as resistant to change.
Often there were economic constraints.
"To play up every ailment or injury and to take time off to recover is not an economically viable thing to do when you are on a small family farm, or living on economically marginal properties."
The report and seven recommendations have gone to the funding bodies for analysis.
Dr Lovelock said the research showed a multifaceted approach would be needed to improve farm safety statistics, and strategies would have a better chance of succeeding if farmers helped design and implement them.
"There isn't a quick fix. It is not as simple as running a course. Ongoing programmes are required."
Improving farm safety and keeping the agricultural workforce "fit, able and alive" was important for the sustainability of the farming sector, which produced 60% of the country's export earnings and employed 9% of its workforce, she said.
"Agriculture is critical to our economy and we need to take care of the agricultural workforce."
Department of Labour service manager for Otago Mark Murray said yesterday farm accidents continued to be a major focus for the department.
He had been keeping local statistics since 1992 and in that time 18 people had died in farm-related accidents.
