Machinery incidents, falls and manual handling continue cause serious injuries and deaths across Australia’s cotton and grain industries, highlighting simple areas where action can prevent harm.
New national safety data released during National Farm Safety Week 2026 shows workplace injuries and fatalities are costing Australia’s cotton and grain industries almost $190 million, while creating significant downtime and productivity impacts across the sector.
Analysis of national work health and safety injury, fatality and workers’ compensation data shows 46 people lost their lives working in the cotton and grains industries between 2019 and 2025, with an estimated economic cost of $125.8 million. Workers’ compensation claims cost both industries a further $64.3 million across 2021-22 and 2023-24.
The data, compiled through the Ag Safety Data Net project on behalf of CRDC and Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), has identified three clear priorities for improving on-farm safety outcomes: improving machinery and vehicle safety, preventing falls, and reducing manual handling-related injuries.
Other key findings from the data include:
- Vehicle and machinery-related incidents remain a significant contributor to fatalities, with tractors, harvesting machines and telehandlers the primary agents involved.
- An average of 1,355 workers compensation claims each year resulted in five or more days off work.
- Falls, particularly falls on the same level, are among the most common mechanisms of injury, highlighting the risks associated with uneven ground surfaces, farm infrastructure and routine work activities.
- Vehicle incidents and being hit by moving objects are also among the leading causes of injury.
- Musculoskeletal injuries, including strains and sprains, are the most common injury type across both sectors, reflecting the risks associated with manual handling, repetitive tasks and awkward postures.
- Environmental hazards, including exposure to heat, dust and challenging terrain, can increase injury risks.
Ag Safety Data Net operational lead, Kerri-Lynn Peachey, said the findings provided growers and farm businesses with practical guidance on where to focus their safety efforts.
“These findings reveal three clear priorities for safety improvements across the cotton and grains industries: improving machinery and vehicle safety, preventing falls, and reducing manual handling-related injuries,” Ms Peachey said.
“Every injury prevented makes a difference, not only for the person involved but also for the productivity and resilience of farming businesses.
“By focusing on the risks that are causing the greatest number of injuries and fatalities, growers can take practical steps to improve safety outcomes for themselves, their families and their workers.”
To support these conversations, CRDC and GRDC have developed a practical summary of the findings, highlighting the key risks and opportunities to improve safety performance on farm.
The data was compiled through the Ag Safety Data Net project, an initiative of the Rural Safety and Health Alliance (RSHA) – a collaboration of nine research and development corporations, including CRDC and GRDC, that invest in work health and safety research.
CRDC, GRDC and Cotton Australia encourage growers, farm workers, advisers and industry stakeholders to use the findings as a conversation starter during Farmsafe Australia’s National Farm Safety Week and throughout the year.
The safety summary can be accessed here.
