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Agricultural occupational health and safety: farming families presenting a challenge to wellness
Author(s) -
HEGNEY DESLEY
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
australian journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.48
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1440-1584
pISSN - 1038-5282
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1584.1993.tb00077.x
Subject(s) - occupational safety and health , legislation , agriculture , business , environmental health , occupational health nursing , welfare , farm workers , effective safety training , medicine , public health , health policy , political science , geography , nursing , law , archaeology , pathology
Occupational health and safety has become the right of all workers. This right was recognised formally in New South Wales and other Australian States by the introduction of legislation in the form of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Farm (agricultural) occupational health and safety differs from other workplace issues, in that the farm is also the home. Thus occupational exposure affects not only the farmer, but the family living on the farm. This article examines the current state of agricultural occupational health and safety (farm safety) in Australia. Farm hazards such as agricultural chemicals, dusts and zoonoses are discussed in an attempt to examine whether farmers are aware of these health hazards, and whether the introduction of workplace legislation has had the same effect on the health, safety and welfare of farmers.