If anyone were to ask me why they should care about workplace safety, I’d sum it up for them in a saying I’ve never forgotten:
The reason for Health & Safety isn’t at work at all.
You need to keep yourself safe and well for those people expecting you to come home tonight.
Farms are high-risk places. Unlike urban construction sites or other high-risk areas that have built-in controls, workers can often be simply thrown into it on the farm.
According to the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), 22 farmers around New Zealand were killed at work in 2014 and many more were seriously injured. I know of people who have been killed in livestock accidents and burn-offs that have gone wrong, and so the issue of farm safety is of great importance to me.
If you employ farm workers, you can face hefty fines if they are injured and you are found responsible. As an employer, you should familiarise yourself with your obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, which came into force last month. Worksafe New Zealand has produced a useful video which is worth watching.
Reducing risk
Most farm accidents are preventable, and a comprehensive induction programme for all employees can go a long way towards building hazard awareness:
- Transport, particularly quad bikes. These are the leading cause of death from injury on Kiwi farms.
- Other machinery: chainsaws, combines, earthmoving equipment.
- Fires: burn-offs should be closely monitored at all times.
- Livestock, particularly bulls and rams. Always be alert when yarding animals.
I recommend strong training programmes in all farming operations and I encourage all farms to design and implement an appropriate health and safety programme if they haven’t already. If you’re wondering where to start, make use of what’s available in existing support networks. As an example, Worksafe New Zealand often promotes local health and safety courses through Federated Farmers. Farming papers can also be useful information sources.