Hazard checklists to help keep your farm safe

It’s a fact: farms are one of the most dangerous workplaces in Australia. Even though other industries (such as the construction and manufacturing industries) might share some similar risks to the agriculture industry – such as operating heavy machinery, varying weather, chemicals, or dust – according to Safe Work Australia, the agriculture industry tops the charts as one of the most dangerous industries to work in based on its high frequency of serious workers’ compensation claims.

The good news is that although farming is risky business, there are many preventative steps that can be taken to help reduce injuries, illnesses and other safety threats by evaluating the risks and taking conscience actions to minimise them.

AgHealth Australia, formerly known as the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (ACAHS), is a research activity group within the School of Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, at the University of Sydney. AgHealth Australia has been leading research in relation to injury and deaths on Australian farms for 30 years. They provide on-farm health and safety auditing services and work alongside partners such as Farmsafe Australia to encourage safe practices on farms by translating research into practical programs to assist farmers, their workers and families and broader rural communities.

So, to help mitigate potential hazards and promote safety on your farm, here is a compiled list of hazard checklists provided by AgHealth Australia that are free for you to download and use from their website.

Simply click on the desired hazard checklist below to start managing safety on your farm.

AgHealth Australia’s Hazard Checklists

• Tractor Checklist
• Irrigation Pumps and Motors Checklist
• Machinery Checklist
• Vehicle Checklist
• Motorbikes, Quads and Side By Side Vehicles Checklist
• Workshop Checklist
• Chemicals, Fertilisers and Pesticides Checklist
• Anhydrous Ammonia Checklist
• Farm Infrastructure Checklist
• Field and Paddock Checklist
• Farm Equipment Checklist
• Training and Induction Checklist
• Emergency and Preparedness Checklist
• Injury Management and Return to Work Checklist
• Cotton Picking Checklist
• Cattle Yard Checklist
• Shearing Shed Checklist
• Packing Shed Checklist
• Orchard Operations Checklist
• Cherry Picker Checklist
• Aquaculture Processing Shed Checklist
• Aquaculture Pond and Aerator Checklist
• Aquaculture Feed Storage and Movement Checklist
• Dairy Specific Farm Safety Starter Kit

To find out more about protecting the things you care about with a WFI insurance policy, call WFI on 1300 934 934 or find your Local Area Manager here.

Insurance issued by Insurance Australia Limited ABN 11 000 016 722 trading as WFI. To see if a product is right for you, always consider the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations available from wfi.com.au.