Safety first with farm visitors this summer

Dec 20, 2023

Keep farm visitors away from machinery and other hazards this summer. Photo by Holly Curtis

SafeWork NSW is urging farmers to keep visitors safe during the summer school holidays by restricting access to dangerous machinery and other hazards.

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With many rural properties also the location of the family home, all visitors — and especially children — should be warned about dangerous ‘no go zones’, including higher-risk hazards like silos, chemicals and workshops, animals, quad bikes, and electrical and water hazards.

SafeWork NSW recommends compiling a list of farm safety rules specific for visitors.

There are a number of easy tasks you can perform before visitors arrive, including:

Identifying ‘no go’ areas to keep visitors away from working areas of the farm.
Make sure visitors know to stay out of fenced areas and away from livestock.
Store plant, equipment, tools and chemicals securely and remove the keys from quad bikes, side-by-side vehicles (SSVs) and tractors.
Don’t let quad bikes, SSVs or tractors be used for rides.
Make sure all passengers in SSVs wear a seat belt and never carry passengers in the rear cargo tray.
Never allow a child under 16 on an adult-sized quad bike and never allow passengers.
Ensure all guards are fitted to power take-offs, augers and other equipment.
Cover voids, pits and other falls risks.
Empty water drums and alert visitors to dams, water courses and other drowning hazards.
Ensure silo ladders and top hatch access is locked.
Ensure all confined spaces, like tanks and silos are not accessible.
Set up safe delivery areas to load and unload livestock or product that separates people and vehicles.
Supervise children at all times, especially around machinery, dams and sheds.

For more information on safety tips relating to farming, visit: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/your-industry/agriculture,-forestry-and-fishing/farming

By McPherson Media Group