Farm Safety Resources

Farmsafe Australia
Farmsafe resources are based on extensive farmer research through the Centre for Ag Health & Safety (AgHealth) and the University of Sydney

Farmsafe – Resources for Farmers
Induction – Farmsafe

AgHealth Australia
Ag Health Website
Ag Health – Farmers
Ag Health – Safety Induction
Ag Health – Emergency
Ag Health – Safety Records
Ag Health – Farm Hazards
Ag Health – Farm Health Safety Promotion

Safework SA
Regulator links
Safework SA – Agriculture/Horticulture/Farming
Safework Australia – Farm Safety

Farmers Guidebook
Safework SA wrote the Farmers Guidebook in consultation with industry to help farmers navigate safety requirements
Farmers Guidebook

Dairy Australia
Dairy has done extensive work on supplying farm safety resources specific to Dairy farmers. But like all safety resources, much of it is still relevant to all farming businesses
Dairy Australia – Farm Safety
The People in Dairy – Farm Safety Manual

Online Induction
Online inductions can be helpful especially for inexperienced workers or backpackers as a first step induction. Unless you have an online induction specifically written for your business, I don’t think they totally replace the need for a ‘site’ induction, but they do allow you to get the basics out of the way via the online platform

1. Farmsafe have a free online induction
Induction – Farmsafe

2. Ag Induction Manager provides module choices for your workers to complete such as “Core”, “Cropping and Grazing” and “Fire Safety” along with site specific modules for AGT foods and Balco Hay
Ag in Compliance
Broad Acre Farm Safety – Online Induction Options

3. This is a new online induction called Rural Property Induction. It is largely livestock based (mainly cattle), but also addresses the basics of machinery, chemical, fatigue and other farm safety topics.
Rural Property Induction

Australian Wool Innovation (AWI)
AWI have some great shearing and wool handling resources
AWI – Wool Harvesting and Quality Preparation

Chemical Acccreditation
Regardless of whether you call it Chemcert or Chemical Accreditation, the
courses farmers undertake for standard chemical applications are these:
– Prepare and apply chemicals
– Transport and store chemicals

Chemcert Website

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
As of July 2018, for most states in Australia, the Chain of Responsibility will be further enforced into a model that follows Work, Health & Safety Law (WHS), not just the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

If you are not accredited and are running general mass limits for your farm truck, then you need to organise yourself with a safety management system or upgrade your old one.

The NHVR have established a DIY Safety Management System for you to use here:
NHVR – Safety Management Systems-SMS
Broad Acre Farm Safety – Trucks

Safety Signage
Don’t go overboard with the signage but communicate clearly where everything is. I have found National Safety Signs hassle free for ordering safety signage online
Website – National Safety Signs

Industrial Relations and Employing People

The People in Ag
This is a fantastic website to help farmers of all persuasions employ people. It covers everything you need to know and provides templates to use.
– Planning for New Employees on Your Farm
– Award Rates, Work Agreements and Pay Entitlements
– Rights and Responsibilities as an Employer
– Workplace Training and Development
and more
Website – People in Ag

Mediation and Employment Relations Service (MERS)
MERS is a South Australian business that offers professional services to employers in managing their workforce.

They offer a discount to Grain Producers SA and Livestock SA members and also contributed their volunteer time to the establishment of the Farmers Guidebook.
MERS have a page of facts specific to farms at:
Website – MERS

Farm Safety Resources – download