Vic farmers advised to prioritise safety during the harvesting season

WorkSafe is emphasising the importance of safety for Victorian primary producers as they enter the harvest season.

The safety regulator observes that the harvest season frequently places greater demands on both producers and their machinery, owing to the warmer weather and the pressure to operate for extended hours at an accelerated pace.

WorkSafe's Chief Health and Safety Officer, Sam Jenkin, said fatigue, along with incidents related to vehicles and machinery, continues to be a major factor contributing to occupational injuries on farms. Many of these incidents occur when experienced farmers are carrying out routine tasks alone.

“We know that fatigued workers are at a higher risk of serious incidents, particularly while working alone with machinery, making rest and focus even more important during the demands of the harvest season,” Mr Jenkin said.

“The result can be deadly when workers don’t have enough time to recover each day, especially for older farmers whose physical capabilities may have changed over time.”

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