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Putting farm safety into practice |
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Health and Safety -
Farm Safety
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Monday, 20 September 2010 14:53 |
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Regular reviews are the only way to ensure farm safety policies are put into practice, such as wearing motorbike helmets and sunhats.
Human Resources Advisor Trevor Westacott says farm businesses need to regularly monitor and update farm safety procedures to ensure the safety standards are maintained.
“Once a farm health and safety management system is in place it should be monitored and regularly reviewed,” he says.
Regular reviews involve
- being on the lookout for new hazards which can occur from changes in work practices or with new equipment;
- consulting with people who work on the farm including contractors;
- investigating near misses;
- checking that control measures work;
- checking health safety action plans;
- going through an inspection checklist regularly; and
- monitoring the health of workers.
South Australian dairy farmers Jodie and Michael Connor recently updated a number of safety procedures for their business.
The Connors provide all staff with motorbike helmets, but are now working to ensure they are worn.
Staff are also required to carry sun hats to wear when working off the bike.
“People find the helmets hot and uncomfortable, especially when doing jobs which involve them getting on and off the bike regularly. But now we are making sure our staff get in the routine of always wearing a helmet on the bike and the hat when working off the bike.”
To check your dairy business meets farm safety requirements, visit The People in Dairy website www.thepeopleindairy.org.au and go to the Farm Policies and Systems section in the Live Library.
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