Employers
Working on the land can be a hazardous occupation.
As an employer you have a legal obligation to make sure your workers are safe while they are at work by:
- identifying and controlling hazards from animal handling, plant, machinery and equipment, the work processes and the environment;
- maintaining the work area, machinery and equipment in a safe condition;
- organising safe systems of work;
- providing adequate information, supervision, instruction and training of workers to enable them to work safely;
- ensuring workers are aware of potential hazards like the handling, storage and use of chemicals;
- providing ear muffs or plugs for hearing protection, approved eye protection for welding, respirator for pesticide application, gloves to help prevent skin problems and suitable footwear for the job;
- providing proper amenities including first aid;
- consulting with workers on health and safety issues;
- ensuring equipment and hazardous materials are used, stored and disposed of safely.
Some of the risky situations that could happen in the day-to-day farming activities are fairly straight forward and are resolved on the go. However, more complex hazards can and do happen on farms and require a more careful approach to manage the risks such as the development of safe work procedures. A discussion of risk management for rural plant is contained in section 1, 2 and 3 of the Rural Plant Industry Code of Practice 2004.
A written risk assessment will help you identify the hazards and come up with a proper solution to the problems.
Keeping records of how you managed the risks through your safe work procedures will allow you to reassess how effective the solutions were and also provide you with evidence of the action you have taken to meet your workplace health and safety obligations.
When children or visitors are present on the farm, extra precautions should be taken to keep them safe including:
- removing keys from the ignition switch of tractors and other vehicles;
- replacing lids on wells and guards on cattle dips;
- locking the pesticide/flammable materials store;
- removing ladders that allow access to silos;
- taking care when operating vehicles or machinery around buildings;
- de-energising power tools or other equipment when you complete the job or if it is interrupted.
Employers and self-employed persons, who store, handle or transport hazardous materials that may affect the safety of people, must comply with the Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001 (PDF, 629 KB).
Last updated October 5, 2005