Some farm activities put farmers at a higher risk of electrical accidents and cotton farmers are encouraged to set aside time to review their electrical safety and take action to reduce the risk of electrical incidents.
As part of a strategic alliance between Cotton Australia and specialist farm insurer Achmea Australia, the two organisations aim to recognise cotton growers’ contribution to a sustainable future for the Australian cotton industry.
“In addition to death and injury, electrical incidents can cause significant property damage and it is important to make people aware of the importance of electrical safety,” according to Richard Officer, National Strategic Alliance Manager at Achmea Australia.
“We hear first-hand the distressing stories from members of the farming community about electrical incidents on farms and as an industry we must work together to save lives,” Richard said.
The main contributors to electrical incidents on farms and in rural communities are typically¹:
- machinery and equipment contacting overhead powerlines;
- damaged or unsafe electrical equipment; and
- safety switches not being installed on power circuits.
“A few simple changes can help protect yourself, your family and your employees and make your cotton farm a safer place,” Richard said.
As part of Achmea Australia’s Keeping Farmers Farming series, Richard encourages cotton farmers to:
- Move irrigation equipment, machinery and other large items away from overhead powerlines.
- Check electrical equipment before use and install safety switches on all circuits using a licensed electrician.
- Discard unsafe electrical items appropriately.
- Report fallen powerlines to your electricity distributor immediately. Always treat them with extreme caution, keep well clear and assume they may be live, or become live, without warning.
- Communicate with your staff and ensure anyone working near overhead powerlines on your farm is aware of the important ‘Look Up and Live’ messages to reduce the risk of an electric shock.
¹General information provided to Achmea Australia by the Electrical Safety Office, Queensland, Office of Industrial Relations (September 2019)
“If in doubt, always consult a licensed electrician,” Richard said.
“Our priority as Australia’s specialist farm insurer is to protect our people, clients and communities so that our farmers can continue to produce fresh food and fibre for Australian families,” Richard said
“The destruction caused by the recent string of catastrophic events has served to remind us of the essential nature of food and fibre security, reinforcing the value of the agriculture sector and the importance of adequate risk mitigation to ensure the continuity of supply,” explains Richard.
The alliance between Achmea Australia and Cotton Australia will support cotton growers through an insurance reward for those who are certified through the Best Management Practices program (myBMP), Cotton Australia’s voluntary farm and environmental management program.
The insurance reward is a premium discount offered by Achmea for its All-in-One Farm Pack to eligible cotton farmers who are certified through the myBMP program*.
*Terms and Conditions apply.
Achmea Australia does not warrant that the information contained herein is accurate, reliable, complete or up to date, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, disclaims all liability of Achmea Australia and its Associates for any loss or damage suffered by any person by reason of the use by that person of, or their reliance on, any information contained in this document or any error or defect in on this document, whether arising from the negligence of Achmea Australia or its Associates or otherwise.
Insurance issued by Achmea Schadeverzekeringen N.V. (Achmea) ABN 86 158 237 702. AFSL 433984
About Cotton Australia and Achmea Australia
Cotton Australia and specialist farm insurer, Achmea Australia have entered into a strategic alliance which recognises the contribution cotton growers make towards a sustainable future for the Australian cotton industry. The alliance will seek to reward those who are certified through the Best Management Practices program (myBMP), Cotton Australia’s voluntary farm and environmental management program.
To contact Achmea, visit www.achmea.com.au, email [email protected] or call 1800 724 214.
About Achmea Australia
Achmea Australia is part of the Achmea Group, which is one of the largest insurance companies in the Netherlands. The Achmea Group has approximately 13 million clients worldwide and is fully dedicated to farm insurance in Australia.