Campaign aims to promote powerline safety within Queensland's agricultural industry

Campaign Aims to Promote Powerline Safety Within Queensland's Agricultural Industry

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is implementing a proactive compliance campaign aimed at minimising risks associated with working in proximity to powerlines within the agricultural industry.

The objective of this statewide safety campaign is to lower risk of workers or machinery encroaching upon unsafe proximities to power lines, with specific focus on upholding exclusion zones. Hazards linked to overhead powerlines remain a persistent concern for businesses operating heavy machinery near rural infrastructure, making awareness campaigns like this one essential for reducing preventable incidents across the sector.

Why This Campaign Matters for Queensland's Agricultural Industry

WHSQ data indicates that since 2021, Queensland's agricultural industry has experienced three fatalities and 113 incidents of powerline strikes, with a significant number occurring in relation to mobile equipment, irrigation systems, or aerial operations.

These figures highlight ongoing hazards facing farm operators, contractors, and seasonal staff who work near overhead infrastructure daily. Many incidents stem from underestimating clearance distances or misjudging equipment height, underscoring why exclusion zones remain central to this safety campaign.

• Three fatalities recorded since 2021 within the agricultural sector
• 113 total powerline strike incidents documented statewide
• Majority linked to mobile machinery, irrigation systems, or aerial work

Supporting Safe Work Practices Across the Sector

“Therefore, this campaign will focus on the safety of workers and others in the agriculture industry from electrical hazards by ensuring businesses meet requirements of Queensland's electrical safety laws,” Workplace Health and Safety Queensland said.

Encouraging safe work habits among workers who operate near power infrastructure requires consistent messaging, practical guidance, and accessible resources. Businesses within the agricultural industry can strengthen their safe work culture by reviewing site-specific procedures and reinforcing exclusion zone awareness before machinery operation begins.

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Strengthening Safety Documentation for Farm Operations

Beyond powerline hazards, agricultural businesses face a range of operational risks requiring documented safe procedures. SafetyDocs offers templates including the Agricultural Workshop Safety SOP, the Agricultural Firearm Safety SOP, and the Children on Farms SOP to help businesses formalise their safety obligations.

Queensland's initiative echoes similar efforts seen interstate, such as the new SafeWork SA campaign aimed at improving safety on farms and the safety campaign targeting quad bike related deaths in Queensland. Comparable road safety efforts, including the campaign promoting safety on roadworks sites launched in Tasmania, demonstrate a broader national push toward reducing preventable workplace hazards.

Businesses seeking additional guidance can explore SafetyDocs' safety software solutions or reach out via our support page for tailored assistance in meeting compliance obligations across the agricultural industry.