WorkSafe inspection highlights critical safety shortcomings on farms

A safety campaign conducted on sheep, beef, and dairy farms throughout New Zealand has highlighted significant weaknesses in the handling of hazardous substances.

Quick Summary: What the WorkSafe Assessments Revealed

• 680 farm visits were completed nationwide between October and December 2025.
• Hazardous substances — storage, labelling and spill control — proved the weakest area measured across the primary industry.
• Vehicles and machinery ranked next, with brakes, tyres, seatbelts, helmets and PTO guarding flagged repeatedly.
• Education before enforcement: each visit was used to coach rather than punish, and industry feedback has been overwhelmingly supportive.

What WorkSafe Inspectors Found

WorkSafe inspectors carried out 680 assessments nationwide during the period from October to December 2025, and the findings are now released, offering farmers valuable insights on potential improvements in the industry.

WorkSafe’s project lead, Carl Baker, said the assessments were intended to gain insight into the conditions on farms, rather than to penalise individuals.

“We went in to have honest conversations with farmers and figure out where we can help them lift their game. The response from the sector has been overwhelmingly positive,” Carl said.

Why Hazardous Substances Topped the List of Safety Issues

Agrichemicals, fuels and veterinary preparations sit on almost every working property, yet reviewers reported sheds without ventilation, decanted containers missing labels, and no register showing what was held on the shelf. Industry guidance from WorkSafe New Zealand is unambiguous: hazardous stock needs a current inventory, a compliant location, and trained people ready to respond.

Weak chemical control rarely stays contained on one block. Spills reach waterways, vapours build up in enclosed sheds, and incompatible products react violently — outcomes that bruise both a balance sheet and the reputation of an entire industry.

Simple, Low-Cost Fixes That Save Lives

He said that numerous identified improvements were simple and inexpensive.

“Keeping vehicles serviced, regularly checking brakes and tyres, ensuring workers wear seatbelts and helmets, and making sure PTOs are properly guarded are relatively simple measures. But they can save lives,” Carl said.

Those low-cost controls typically include:

• Scheduled servicing for utes, tractors and side-by-sides, with dates recorded
• Brake and tyre checks before seasonal peaks such as shearing or calving
• Fitted, functioning restraints in every cab and roll-over protection where fitted
• Helmets kept serviceable for quad bike riding, not stored broken in a corner
• Guards secured over power take-off shafts, augers and drive belts

None of these steps demand capital expenditure, which is precisely why industry advocates keep returning to them.

Lessons for the Agricultural Sector Closer to Home

Findings across the Tasman echo patterns familiar to anyone in the local agricultural industry: quad bikes, tractors and chemical handling still dominate rural incident statistics. Regulators in each state and territory run comparable education programs — see how NT WorkSafe reaches out to small farms with new safety initiative for one regional example, or read our guide to working on farms in Australia for a broader rundown of rural risk controls.

Awareness campaigns work best when paired with documented systems, a lesson also drawn out by National Asbestos Awareness Week coverage.

How to Assess Your Farm Against Common Workplace Risks

Begin with a documented walk-around. A farm safety checklist converts vague concern into evidence you can work with, and it gives every visiting supplier or auditor a clear picture of industry-recognised controls already in place.

• List each hazardous substance stored on site, then verify labels, safety data sheets and secure containment
• Inspect guarding on rotating machinery and tag anything awaiting repair
• Confirm helmet condition and availability before any bike shift begins
• Review who may enter high-risk zones — our Children on Farms SOP sets clear boundaries around sheds, yards and machinery
• Check ignition sources near fuel and hay with our Fire Prevention on Farms SOP
• Before trench, drainage or effluent pond earthworks, apply an Excavation Safety Inspection Checklist

Documentation Turns Good Intent into Proof

Insurers, buyers and industry bodies increasingly ask the same question: can you show it? Current health and safety documentation answers that question in minutes rather than weeks, and it makes induction of seasonal help far smoother.

Templates aligned with prevailing industry standards remove guesswork, while safety software keeps registers, inductions and inspection records in one place. Our support team can point you toward the right pack for your enterprise size.

Building an Industry-Wide Safety Culture

Where casual crews and shearing gangs move between properties, industry consistency matters as much as individual diligence. Shared expectations mean a new arrival already understands helmet rules, chemical storage and machinery lockouts before the first gate swings open.

WorkSafe has published the full results, and that information gives every operator a benchmark for measuring progress. Treat it as a living health and safety system rather than a one-off audit, and the whole industry lifts with you.

Read more here.