Reminder to stay safe at NSW farms this festive season

Reminder to Stay Safe at NSW Farms This Festive Season

SafeWork NSW reminds people visiting rural properties during the festive season that farms are workplaces, urging them to make safety a priority. Acting Head of SafeWork NSW John Tansey said everyone, including family members, visitors and volunteers, has a role to play when it comes to farm safety.

"There are many dangers on farms, from silos, chemicals and workshops, to animals, quad bikes, electrical and water hazards, as well as other dangerous 'no go zones' which account for a high proportion of serious incidents," Mr Tansey said.

Why Farm Security Matters for Visitors

Rural properties carry risks that guests often underestimate. Unfenced dams, chemical storage areas and machinery sheds pose genuine security concerns for anyone unfamiliar with a working property, particularly during busy holiday periods when visitor numbers rise.

Agriculture operations rarely pause over the festive season, meaning tractors, livestock handling equipment and transport vehicles continue moving across properties even while families gather. Anyone unfamiliar with agriculture settings should treat every paddock, shed and yard as an active worksite rather than a backdrop for celebrations.

Practical Steps for Farm Owners

"A great idea to ensure visitors are aware of dangers is to compile a list of farm safety rules specific for visitors and ensure if they are operating a vehicle or equipment, they are competent and adequately trained to do so," Mr Tansey said.

• Brief guests on farm-specific hazards before they explore the property
• Restrict transport of visitors on quad bikes, utes or other machinery unless they hold proper training
• Fence or clearly mark any pool, dam or waterway to prevent accidental entry
• Store chemicals and agriculture equipment away from general access areas
• Supervise children and inexperienced visitors near livestock, machinery and any pool on the premises

Water and Pool Hazards on Rural Properties

Many rural properties feature a pool, dam or irrigation channel that visitors may not expect. Every pool area should carry visible signage, secure fencing and constant supervision whenever guests are present, since drowning risks rise sharply during hot festive weeks.

Farm owners hosting visitors near any pool or open water source should confirm barriers remain intact and gates stay locked when unsupervised, especially where children or unfamiliar guests are staying overnight.

Transport Safety Across the Property

Transport incidents remain among the most common causes of serious injury on farms. Quad bikes, utility vehicles and agriculture machinery require specific skills, and visitors should never assume they can operate this transport without instruction.

Owners planning to offer transport around the property, whether for a farm tour or general access, should confirm each driver understands vehicle limits, terrain hazards and passenger restrictions before setting off. Limiting transport to trained operators reduces the chance of rollovers, collisions or falls significantly.

Where to Find Further Guidance

SafeWork services offer detailed guidance for farm owners preparing their property for festive visitors, including checklists covering machinery, chemicals and water hazards. These services extend to Safe Work Method Statements that document safe procedures for tasks ranging from equipment operation to general property maintenance.

For businesses managing similar obligations elsewhere, our related coverage of NSW workplace safety reminders this festive season and NT workplace safety guidance for the holiday season offers further context on seasonal risk management across industries.

Farm operators seeking documented procedures for specific tasks can review resources such as the Rigging Safe Work Procedure, Jigsaw Safe Work Method Statement or Linisher Safe Work Method Statement, all of which support broader agriculture and workshop safety planning.

For more on this story, visit the Safe Work NSW website.