SafeWork SA issues warning about farm safety following fatalities in the agricultural industry

SafeWork SA is advising farmers and agricultural workers to implement additional safety measures when operating machinery and handling hazardous airborne substances, following two tragic deaths on farms in South Australia in 2025.

In the initial incident, a man was fatally struck by a tractor that was reversing, which had been accidentally engaged and discovered to be in substandard condition.

The second fatality was related to a worker who succumbed after being exposed to airborne pollutants during the process of cleaning grain dust from the enclosed space of a silo. The man was not given sufficient respiratory protection and subsequently died from respiratory failure linked to a prior health issue.

“Farm machinery such as tractors, augers, conveyors and harvesters can cause severe injury or death if not used correctly or maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements,” SafeWork SA states in its latest safety warning.

The safety regulator observes that one significant factor contributing to farm incidents is the activation of equipment during cleaning, adjustment, or repair processes.

Learn more here.