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New to farm safety and not sure where to start? We've got a guide made just for you.
On most farms, stories get shared around pretty quickly. The good, the bad, the ugly.
What went wrong, what worked, and what we’d do differently next time.
Sharing our experiences is a common practice. Not only do we like to talk about what has happened to us, but we also like to listen to how other people have reacted in similar situations.
Sharing our farm safety experiences shouldn’t be different. Just as everyone approaches tasks differently, you can also learn ways to improve on-farm health and safety by hearing others' methods.
Proactive farm safety means identifying risks early and putting steps in place before something goes wrong.
As employers, we need to give workers the time and training they need to stay in control, empowering everyone to create a safe, proactive workplace.
What happens when you don’t take safety seriously?
When safety isn’t a priority, incidents happen. This can result in injuries, claims or fatalities.
According to the Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2025, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing has the highest frequency rate of serious claims in any industry between 2023 – 24.
Reaching 10 serious claims per million hours worked, compared to the Australian average of 6.8.
Of these serious claims, traumatic joint/ligament and muscle/tendon injuries were the most frequent, with 662 claims from men and 273 from women.
In 2024, there were 72 on-farm fatalities, with farm vehicles and machinery causing the majority (80%). The majority of serious claims were caused by being hit by moving objects, body stressing, and falls, trips and slips.
The number of serious claims and fatalities won’t decrease unless more workplaces make safety the forefront of their operations.
What are 5 ways to be proactive about farm safety?
You can be proactive about farm safety by:
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Running regular safety meetings
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Giving workers time and training
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Encouraging open communication
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Finding practical, on-farm solutions
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Learning from mistakes and near misses
1. Running regular safety meetings
Small conversations can have the biggest impact. Improvements are best made when everyone at your workplace is invested in them.
Even small changes, such as reminders to wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), can prompt workers to keep safety at the forefront of their minds.
Regular refreshers on seasonal safety issues, such as working in heat or fatigue management, can also help.
If you get stuck for ideas, use workplace inspections to identify potential hazards and split them into categories for topics, such as:
- Machinery
- Yard areas
- The workshop
- Food production area
2. Giving workers time and training
Safety only works when people have time to do it properly.
If workers feel rushed, they’re more likely to skip checks or take shortcuts. Make sure your team has time for things like pre-start checks, inductions and training. Then back it up with the right support so they know what safe work actually looks like.
3. Encouraging open communication
Good safety starts with good conversations.
Safety meetings can help improve communication and foster good relationships within any business. In some states, your workplace health and safety regulations may require them regularly.
As an employer, use regular team meetings to ask direct questions or provide topics for discussion, instead of asking general questions like ‘any safety issues?'
This is more likely to prompt engagement and bring up risks that might’ve otherwise been missed.
4. Finding practical, on-farm solutions
Sometimes the safest solution isn’t the most obvious one. You often need to look outside the traditional avenues to come up with effective solutions to safety issues.
In terms of agriculture, the most logical solution isn't always realistic. For example, in busy times, fatigue is a factor, but so is lost time. Creating a break covering system across the operation can ensure things are always moving.
If you find that your farm workers aren't committed to following the safety processes you have in place, find out why this is. Then look for an innovative way to remedy the issue.
Use your networks to discuss on-farm safety issues. Look at the practices used at your neighbour's place, the local silo, or a dairy or meat processing plant, and use those tried-and-tested methods to develop your safety plan.
Be sure you are allowing enough time for workplace safety. Are messages of productivity causing undue pressure or preventing workers from performing vital machinery checks due to the job urgency? Listen and change practices to align business needs with worker needs.
5. Learning from mistakes and near misses
Be willing to admit your mistakes.
If your safety initiatives fail, consider why this happened so you can improve next time. Effective workplace health and safety management needs flexibility and collaboration.
Farm safety isn’t something you set and forget. Small, consistent actions make the biggest difference over time.
Topics: Safety Management System
Disclaimer: Content on this website may be of relevance to users outside of Australia, but content links and examples are specific to Australia. Please check with your local authority for your country and industry requirements.
