Our FREE Farm Machinery Resource walks you through the key hazards, safety checks, and practical steps to make your equipment safer on farm.
Machinery used to be built to last.
We’re talking tractors, augers, cultivators and rakes still running today that were built 20, 30 or even 40 years ago. And many farms across Australia still rely on them every day.
Right now, that’s not surprising.
With fuel prices up and margins tight, replacing machinery isn’t always an option. Farmers are making practical decisions to keep operations moving, often with the machinery they already own.
And in many cases, older machinery still does the job and can be safe to use. But only if the risks are properly managed, and the right safety controls are in place.
Yes. Older farm machinery can be safe to use if the risks are properly managed.
Safe farm machinery means equipment with the right safety controls in place, properly maintained, and used as intended.
The biggest danger isn’t the machine’s age, but missing or damaged safety controls. This increases the risk of serious injury.
What to look out for?
Common risks with older machinery include:
Missing or damaged guards
No emergency stop
No isolation points
Exposed moving parts
The key isn’t to replace or upgrade your machinery all at once, but to ensure that your existing equipment is as safe as reasonably possible.
Not only to protect your people, but your business as well.
Older equipment has a few clear advantages.
It’s simple, mechanical, and familiar. Most farmers know how it works and can fix issues themselves without needing a technician or diagnostic software.
Repairs are usually cheaper, as parts can often be sourced locally, repaired, or even fabricated if needed. Just make sure any repairs are fit for purpose and don’t compromise safety.
When cash flow is tight, that matters. For many businesses, keeping older machinery running is a smart financial decision.
Older machinery doesn’t mean it's automatically deemed unsafe. All machinery becomes unsafe when key safety controls are missing, damaged or bypassed, regardless of its age.
The issue isn’t the machine's age. It’s what the machine doesn’t have.
Machinery built 20+ years ago doesn't have today's safety standards. Controls such as guards, emergency stops, isolators, and interlocks may never have been installed.
That’s where the risk comes in.
Without these controls, workers are exposed to moving parts, crush points and entanglement hazards.
SafeWork SA highlights that poorly guarded machinery can lead to:
Cuts and lacerations
Crush injuries
Fractures
Amputations
Fatalities
And it’s not just older machines.
Even modern equipment becomes dangerous if safety controls are removed or not maintained.
Workers need access to the right safety information and records for the machinery they’re using. Without it, people are left guessing, and that’s where things go wrong.
Newer machinery is designed to meet current WHS requirements from the start.
It includes built-in guards, interlocks, emergency stops and safer control systems. Many also use sensors and software to improve performance and efficiency.
But that comes with trade-offs.
Modern machines are more expensive to buy and repair. When something goes wrong, it often requires specialist diagnostics and trained technicians.
With rapid advances in agtech, replacement cycles are also getting shorter.
For most farms, it’s not about choosing old or new. In some cases, farmers may also look at options like sharing machinery to manage costs and access safer equipment.
It’s about making what you have as safe as reasonably possible.
A critical step that often gets overlooked is completing a risk assessment on each piece of machinery. Both old and new machines can present serious hazards, but using a structured risk assessment helps identify exactly where those risks exist.
This allows you to put the right controls in place before operation, whether that’s installing guards, adding isolation points or adjusting work procedures. Taking the time to assess risks upfront is one of the most effective ways to prevent incidents and ensure machinery can be used safely on farm.
Some simple ways to do this include:
Identifying missing or damaged guards
Installing or upgrading safety controls where possible
Maintaining existing safety features
You don’t need the latest machine to run a safe operation. But you do need to manage the risks that come with the equipment you’re using.
In 2023, a farm worker suffered life-altering injuries when their hand was caught in the rotating rollers of an older onion grading machine.
The machine did not have adequate guarding. The worker believed it had been shut down before reaching in to clear a blockage.
Several fingers were amputated.
Investigations found the equipment lacked basic safety features such as fixed guards and isolator switches. The companies involved were fined a combined $65,000.
Older machinery can still play a valuable role on farm, but safety remains essential. If you’re relying on older equipment, the focus shouldn’t be on replacing it overnight. It should be on making sure it’s as safe as it can be for your workers and your business.
Want a simple way to assess your machinery risks?
Our Farm Machinery Guide walks you through the key hazards, safety checks, and practical steps to make your equipment safer on farm.
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.