Man dies in egg farm fall

Second fatal farming incident in two days

A MAN has died after falling from a truck at a Freshwater Creek egg farm.

Paramedics were called to the property on Anglesea Rd after reports a man, aged in his 40s, had suffered head injuries in a fall about 9.15am yesterday.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said the man was in a critical condition when crews arrived on scene.

WorkSafe said the man suffered fatal injuries after he fell from a stationary truck while loading manure into the truck.

“A man in his 40s died after he fell from a stationary truck at an egg farm at Freshwater Creek near Geelong,” a spokeswoman said.

The site farms about 127,000 birds in four sheds.

The property sold for more than $1.05 million in 2013.

It is the second fatality at a farm in less than 25 hours after a man in his 50s was killed at a Limestone property.

The man was spreading lime across the top of a steep hill when the vehicle rolled.

The man was thrown from the cabin and crushed as the vehicle rolled down the hill.

WorkSafe executive director of health and safety, Marnie Williams said the two deaths were tragic, and highlighted the need for every farm to make safety their number one priority.

“Agriculture employs just 3 per cent of Victorian workers but accounts for almost 30 per cent of all workplace deaths,” Ms Williams said.

“These two incidents brings to eight the number of agriculture workplace fatalities this year.

“This is a horrendous toll and is completely unacceptable.

“Using heavy machinery and working at height are often parts of the job, but it is important that everyone involved in agriculture — employers, employees and contractors — understand the risks associated with every task and manage them appropriately.”

The deaths bring the total number of workplace fatalities in Victoria this year to 13, compared with 18 at the same time last year.

More than 100 Australian workers were killed at work in 2016. The highest number of deaths were in the agriculture, forestry and fishing, transport, postal and warehousing and construction industries.

For more information on farm safety and working at heights, visit worksafe.vic.gov.au.