SafeWork encourages agricultural workers to make safety a priority this National Farm Safety Week

SafeWork NSW is encouraging the 81,000 agricultural workers in the state to make safety a priority this National Farm Safety Week by following proper work practices or not working at all.

Rising Incident Numbers Across the Agricultural Industry

SafeWork statistics show there were 149 safety incidents reported in the agriculture industry in 2013. Shockingly, this number surged to 358 incidents in 2022.

From 2022 to the present, there have been 34 deaths in the agriculture industry in NSW, with at least 10 involving a quad bike or side-by-side vehicle. These figures highlight daily risks faced by agricultural workers across farming operations throughout Australia.

Farm Safety Remains a Leading Concern for NSW Businesses

Head of SafeWork NSW Trent Curtin said the agricultural industry is responsible for 20% of workplace fatalities in New South Wales annually.

"Business owners must make sure their workplaces are safe workplaces," he said.

"This Farm Safety Week we want to put the focus on making sure that farming work is done safely, and our workers make it home at the end of each day. Remember it's the safe way or no way."

Supporting Safer Practices Across the Agricultural Industry

Employers across the agricultural industry can reduce hazards by reviewing daily operations, reinforcing safe vehicle use, and equipping teams with practical agricultural workshop safety procedures. Vehicle-related hazards remain a persistent concern, so businesses running quad bikes or side-by-sides should also consider structured 4 wheel driving safety guidance alongside agricultural firearm safety documentation where relevant to their operations.

Similar safety campaigns have run in other jurisdictions, including WorkSafe's push to enhance cattle yard safety measures during the same national week, plus earlier coverage of Farm Safety Week 2022. Workplaces outside agriculture face their own seasonal safety pushes too, such as this look at maintaining safety during National Asbestos Awareness Week.

Businesses wanting to stay compliant and stay ahead of hazards within the agricultural industry can draw on structured safety software resources to manage documentation and risk controls, alongside dedicated support resources for building out workplace safety systems.

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