Let’s talk about why safety doesn’t wait, and what you can do, starting right now.
You don’t need to overhaul your farm to start improving safety.
Small steps today build a strong safety culture tomorrow.
When safety is everyone’s job, no one carries the burden alone.
Every day presents unique challenges, and the well-being of everyone on the farm should always be a focus. We’ve all been guilty of putting off a job because “there aren’t enough hours in the day”, but how often do we wait until something goes wrong before taking action?
Over the years, the importance of creating a culture of safety on the farm has become recognised. It’s not only encouraged, it's expected. Most agribusinesses now use a safety management system to keep their teams informed, accountable and proactive. Safety isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about building habits that protect people every day.
There are only so many hours each day to get things done. There's usually a long list of priorities, and sitting down to build a safety system rarely makes the top of the list. However, if you're aiming to improve the safety culture in your workplace, you’ve got to:
Invest the time
Stay accountable
Trust the process, it will pay off sooner than you think.
Let's start by exploring the ‘why’ behind farm safety and the current landscape of the agricultural industry.
The AgriFutures ‘Non-intentional farm-related incidents in Australia' report delivered alarming statistics for farm safety last year.
In 2024, 72 lives were lost on Australian farms. That’s 72 loved ones that didn’t return home following incidents with side-by-sides, quad bikes, tractors, and other agricultural machinery.
In addition, 133 serious injuries were reported, with quad bikes remaining the top cause but injuries involving cattle and horses are also on the rise.
Regardless of whether you are managing a business or work on a farm, the importance of safety can’t be overstated. Farms are busy places filled with machinery, animals, and various tasks that can pose risks if not handled properly.
By understanding the risks associated with farming, we can better appreciate the importance of implementing safety measures.
The primary objective for farm safety is to ensure that no lives are ever lost on farms. Yet this goal can’t be achieved unless agribusinesses begin to promote and adopt change. Safety can’t wait until everything is perfect, because let’s face it, there will never be a ‘perfect’ time. Take small proactive steps and gradually implement safety measures to encourage a safer workplace for all.
Think of your safety policy and procedures. They support workers in gaining a sense of control and knowledge over dangerous machinery or unpredictable animals. They’re your workers' guidelines for minimising the likelihood of risk towards them, so it’s in your best interest to keep them up to date.
By investing in a digital system, you’re also investing in your people and your business. You can assign and track acceptance logs when updating your safety documentation. You can also set training expiry reminders so you know who on farm is equipped for the job.
Another tip is to conduct Risk Assessments throughout your workplace to identify any hazards. It’ll point out any dangers and suggest whether you should control or eliminate the risks. Safe Ag Systems offers a free Risk Assessment tool for you to utilise.
It’s important to remember that by lowering one variable, you’re automatically increasing the other. If you drop the ball with safety, you’re allowing risk to increase in your workplace.
We can’t emphasise enough that safety isn’t a ‘one and done’ or ‘she’ll be right' tactic. It needs ongoing commitment.
This means fostering a culture where safety is integrated into daily operations, rather than simply checking off boxes to meet legal requirements.
Get started by tackling the simpler safety tasks first. These can help you build momentum and confidence for tackling larger challenges. Start small and build momentum. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started.
Assign a safety checklist before operating a machine.
Set a 15-minute safety talk before each day or a day when you know the majority of the team is on site.
Review and update one policy or procedure this month.
The small things you do regularly are the ones that have the biggest impact.
Not just down at the local footy club, try to recognise and celebrate the small victories along the way. Confidence is a building block for creating a strong safety culture.
Creating a culture of safety goes beyond just having a plan in place. By fostering an environment where everyone feels comfortable discussing safety, farms can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.
It’s the little things each day, that all form a bigger picture down the track. One where daily actions contribute to your overall workplace safety. And the best way to track this progress? A safety management system capable of record-keeping. Better yet, one that has a Safety Rating and can generate a certificate with evidence of your commitment to safety in your workplace.
It's not only safety documentation that your safety management system can do for you. It’s everything from your inventory, task management, workers and hazard mapping.
If you’re a busy working farm, you need your machinery to be in working order. Breakdowns cost time and money, slowing down the whole operation.
Keep track of your machinery by recording its hours, kilometres, pre-start safety checks and maintenance records in your system. By keeping track of its daily use, you’ll gain a better understanding of your machinery and its usage. And by the end of the year, you’ll have a comprehensive history of it.
This is crucial for resale value and a legal requirement for your WHS and compliance.
It’s not only machinery you can apply this to. Think of coolrooms or your toolbox talks. You can record daily temperatures or talks and know when things were said and done.
And just like that, you’ll eventually have a strong record of the efforts and safety checks conducted in your workplace. Something measurable, so you’re not scratching your head this time next year wondering what you’ve achieved.
Farm safety is an ongoing commitment that requires immediate action rather than waiting for the perfect moment. Get started with a step-by-step action plan for changes to accomplish.
Start small with utilising machinery checklists, then work your way up to updating policies and safe work procedures. Simplify safety for your team by using a digital system to store and track your records and safety documentation.
Safe Ag Systems is an all-encompassing solution for your safety and operational needs. It offers customisable templates for over 50 Policies, 150 Checklists and 200 Safe Work Procedures. Update them as needed and the system handles version control with a record of past versions. With the groundwork done, Safe Ag Systems is here to support and simplify steps in your safety journey.
Remember, when it comes to farm safety, the goal isn’t perfection, it’s progress.
Topic: Safety Management System
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