NSW farm safety training program aims to enhance safety results for agricultural workers

In short: A 12-month training program for farms has begun in New South Wales, facilitated by SafeWork NSW, to advance work health and safety outcomes for farm workers. Roughly 1,000 participants employed across agriculture will trial free sessions, then receive a completion certificate they can hand to an employer.

Government backs 12-month program for farms

The NSW Government has commenced a 12-month Farm Safety Training Program, facilitated by the state safety regulator, to advance WHS outcomes for farm employees working across regional New South Wales.

The State Government said approximately 1,000 agricultural and farming sector staff will participate in a pilot of the initiative, which aims to enhance their understanding of Work Health Safety (WHS) and promote safer practices on farms.

Certificate of completion for participating workers

After finishing the training, participants will be awarded a certificate of completion that can be presented to employers as proof of their knowledge and grasp of farm safety.

Seasonal hirers therefore gain a quick method of verifying baseline awareness before anyone starts working near livestock, silos or heavy plant.

Could an industry safety card follow in agriculture?

According to the Government, findings from the pilot program will assist SafeWork NSW in determining the practicality of introducing a safety card tailored for the agriculture industry workforce.

Such credentials would mirror schemes long familiar to construction crews, giving contractors portable evidence of competency wherever seasonal jobs take them.

Why safety training matters on farms

Agriculture ranks among Australia's higher-risk industries. Safe Work Australia lists agriculture, forestry and fishing among the sectors recording the highest rates of work-related fatalities, and many incidents involve equipment or vehicles handled daily.

Practical instruction helps protect the long-term health of farming families as well as hired crews working long hours through harvest. Common hazards addressed by structured sessions include:

• Quad bike and vehicle rollovers, including incidents involving young workers
• Falls from height around silos, sheds and elevated platforms
• Livestock handling injuries during yarding and drafting
• Chemical and dust exposure, a concern echoed by the recent silica exposure consultation in NSW
• Firearm use for pest control and humane destruction

Supporting resources for agricultural operations

Documented procedures turn classroom lessons into daily habit. Downloadable resources such as our Agricultural Workshop Safety SOP, 4 Wheel Driving SOP and Firearm Safety SOP give growers working under tight seasonal deadlines ready-made guidance to issue, sign off and review.

Operators across the Tasman can browse equivalent New Zealand safety documents, while regional employers may also value earlier learning sessions on the safety of female farm workers in NSW.

Read more here.