Implementing a community initiative for the prevention of injury on farms in New Zealand.
Among New Zealand occupational injuries, farm-related injuries are second only to forestry in importance. A three-year Farm Safety Study, funded by the Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Corporation, researched the epidemiology of farm injury in New Zealand, the safety behaviour and attitudes of people living on farms and the international literature on farm safety strategies. The Farm Safety Study made funds and regional injury information available to a local farm women's network in Southland to initiate work on farm safety through a series of workshops. Evaluation indicated effective coverage of farm types and localities. Outcomes included increased safety awareness, suggestions for a range of individual, community and institutional strategies and proposals for a local fieldworker. Over half the women responding to an evaluation questionnaire reported taking specific action to make their own farm safer. This project indicates that linking integrated, locally based research with action by community groups can be an effective mechanism to advance change.
Barnett
P
P
Department of Public Health and General Practice, School of Medicine, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Houghton
R
R
Broad
A
A
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*