What does Farm Safety look like?

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What is a Risk Assessment?

A Risk Assessment is basically…..thinking about, recognising and then recording the risks on your farm. Documenting this process not only keeps you organised but shows that you have thought about what could go wrong, what you already do to reduce the risk and what you can do in the future to further improve. I do
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Where do I start?

You don’t just snap your fingers and ‘BOOM’….. farm safety arrangements have been addressed and implemented! It’s a gradual process and is often a matter of formalising many of the things you already do If the family dynamic & attitude allows!!…..start with a farm business commitment & some basic rules. Download one here: do-i-need-a-work-health-safety-policy Next, you need
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Do I Need a Work, Health & Safety Policy?

Ultimately yes…..but it’s not the priority item in my opinion! Although the word ‘policy’ is only mentioned in the Regulations as specifically required for mining, construction and major hazard facilities. A policy is really the rule book that gives direction to workers of what’s expected of them. Every business has a variety of basic duties
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Working at Heights

Although not a regulated licence for Agriculture, I do recommend that farmers do the ‘working at heights’ course. It often does the rounds of the rural areas so seriously think about undertaking it next time it’s nearby. Sometimes….if I didn’t laugh I would cry at the high positions farmers get themselves into! Trying to get
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Workplace Facilities

Providing ‘perfect’ workplace facilities on a farm is difficult to achieve, especially with numerous isolated properties where some are only utilised during busy times of the farming calendar. Just do the best you can at your regular work sites and allow access to water at those isolated, rarely used sites in whatever delivery method is
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Remote & Isolated Work

Many farmers and their families in Australia live and work in remote, isolated locations, that’s just how it is! What rural/pastoral people consider remote or isolated is quite different to what those in cities and large rural centres think. But ultimately, a farm is a workplace so you need to prepare for emergencies in relation
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Records Management

Record keeping is a good habit to foster, but in my experience, has never been the priority item to be addressed on a farm. There are some records that you are legally required to keep ……but not a lot! Then there are other records that might help you with your decision making and management of
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Manual Handling

Farmers have a lot of lifting and shifting and rearranging we do in our sheds and workyards. We get into awkward postures when performing machinery maintenance and other tasks. Get organised Don’t be a hero! Use the machinery & tools you have available to lift heavy objects or position yourself appropriately to the work at hand
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Industrial Relations

If you employ workers on farm, you have more than just work, health and safety to manage. There are employment requirements for pay slips, superannuation, work hours, award rates, leave entitlements and more to keep on top of. It’s a matter of getting organised and there are a great deal of resources on the internet
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