Riverina farmer Adam Symons has arm torn off in 'horrific' hay baler accident, drives himself to get help
By Cara Jeffery and Sally Bryant - ABC.net.au
A "one-in-a-million" farming accident resulted in the arm of an experienced worker being completely severed after it was caught in a hay baler.
Farmer Nathan McPherson said his good friend Adam Symons, both from Ganmain in the New South Wales Riverina, was lucky to escape with his life after he became entwined in the hay baler.
"He was just doing a routine check on his baler and has got his hand caught in the baler, and it took it completely off from the elbow," Mr McPherson said.
"And the way he is, he is a good man, full of character, he jumped in the tractor and drove 400 metres to find the paddock where they were stacking bales to get help.
"The farmer was quick-thinking and he saved his life by putting something around his arm to stop the bleeding."
A helicopter transported Mr Symons, 36, from the property to hospital in Canberra.
"For his arm to be completely off his body for three-and-a-half hours and rolling around in a baler, and for them to secure the arm back on, is just a one-in-a-million story — I hope," Mr McPherson said.
"It's a pretty horrific story, he is travelling OK now, and they have somehow managed to put the arm back on.
"He has got a pulse in his hand and some movement in his fingers, which is a great sign."
'A good reality check'
Mr McPherson said the incident served as a reminder that farmers and agricultural workers should not become complacent when operating machinery.
"It just goes to show how careful you have to be around machinery, no matter how long you've been doing it," he said.
"Being on a farm myself, you can get a bit blasé about things.
"With the up-and-coming harvest and baling season, when you work long hours, it's a good reality check to everyone that these things can happen.
"I know people have close calls, but you have just [got] to take a step back and look after yourself and take precautions when you're using machinery."
There have also been two fatal farm-related accidents this month; one at Goolgowi near Griffith on October 13 involving a telehandler, and another near Leeton on October 8 involving a tractor.
SafeWork NSW health and safety manager for Riverina-Murray Scott Kidd said investigations into the incidents were ongoing.
Mr Kidd said there had been a spike in workplace incidents on farms across southern NSW as the improved season had ramped-up activity and increased workloads.
"We are seeing people working longer hours, suffering from fatigue and just trying to get ahead after some fairly average seasons in most locations," he said.
"A spike in activity in agriculture inevitably leads to a spike in serious injuries and, unfortunately, fatalities as well."
'People need to slow down'
Mr Kidd confirmed all three incidents involved experienced farmers and agricultural workers.
"In these fatal incidents and with the serious injury, we are looking at people aged from 36 to 66," he said.
"So, people that are very well experienced in the workplace, but also people that have become very familiar and experienced in the workplace and the work they do.
"Familiarity is a part of the greater problem when it comes to work health and safety.
"People need to slow down and make sure they are following processes in place, because every activity has a process that needs to be followed to make sure that they get home safely."
Mr Kidd said DIY repairs were also leading to serious workplace incidents.
"When money has been tight during the tougher seasons people have been making-do with home engineering solutions and doing their own servicing, which can lead to issues," he said.
"There are also issues around traffic management where people wander into areas and are being struck by plant equipment."
New workers need attention
The closures of international and domestic borders have impacted the seasonal worker supply in Australia and have led to some untrained people taking up jobs in agriculture to make up the shortfall.
Mr Kidd said this meant good work health and safety practices were crucial.
"When someone steps onto your property, you need to think about it in the context of those people know nothing," he said.
"They don't know the property, they don't know the systems, processes, equipment that you have in place.
"Treat everybody as a visitor to your farm or your property.
"Everything a farmer knows to operate safely may not be enough for a newcomer to survive their time at work on that property."
Mr Kidd urged business owners and farmers to keep on top of their safety plans with regular toolbox talks.
"Safety needs to stay at the forefront of everybody's minds," he said.
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Originally Posted by PorkChopSandwiches
well, unless he got it in the rotor part...then again they didn specify what sort of bailer it was, there's generally 2 types, the smaller ones produce like a 1x2x3' or so that my gramp had.
