The fifth-generation cattle producer was drafting bulls on his Willaura property when he was briefly distracted by someone asking a question from the other side of the yard. As his attention shifted, two bulls - weighing about 850 kilograms each - began fighting.
"One bull smashed the other straight through a chained gate," Mr Abbott said. "The chain blew off, and the bull slammed into a rail beside me, knocking me over."
"Thankfully it wasn't a huge knock, but if I'd been standing a foot to the left, I would've been crushed. The fact that I was standing exactly where I was - that was pure luck and I'll never forget it."
Mr Abbott manages the cattle operation at Mount William Station, a property his family has farmed for more than 100 years. He is one of the faces of WorkSafe's new agriculture campaign 'Safety - it does more than keep you safe' which reminds farmers of the wide-ranging benefits safety provides, such as improved efficiency, increased productivity, staff retention, peace of mind, legacy-building and most importantly, protecting the lives of everyone on farm.
Since upgrading his cattle yards to include modern races and crushes, raised working platforms, slam latch gates and cattle-free zones, Mr Abbott has noticed big improvements.
"Now, the cattle move better, people stay out of danger zones, and there's less stress on the animals and on us. We get the work done quicker instead of finishing in the dark."
"Older cattle yards relied a lot on experience, reflexes and manpower to manage risk," Mr Abbott said. "But you can never fully trust cattle, no matter how calm they appear. Things can go wrong in seconds, and you need a yard that protects you."
Agriculture makes about two per cent of the Victorian workforce but regularly accounts for about 10 per cent of workplace fatalities.
Since 2021, there have been 38 work-related fatalities in Victoria's agriculture industry, including five last year and three so far this year - the majority of which involved tractors and victims aged 65 and older.
In the same period, WorkSafe accepted 2,932 injury claims from workers in the industry.
WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said aging adds another layer of consideration, particularly around cattle and tractors as reaction times slow and physical capacity changes.
"We understand farming is not really something you retire from and many farmers are active well into their 70s and 80s, which is something to be proud of when experience is so valuable," Mr Jenkin said.
"But it's important to pause every so often and think about what safety measures are in place and where you might benefit from some extra help," he said. "We want you safe and sticking around as long as possible to pass on your legacy of skills, knowledge and experience to the next generation."
WorkSafe has a suite of practical safety guidance for farmers that is consistently reviewed and updated based on good practice and co-designed with industry experts.
WorkSafe's new agriculture campaign is running across regional television, print, radio, online, outdoor, and social media.
