NSW Farm Safety Blitz: Addressing the Rise in Fatal Agriculture Accidents

NSW Farm Safety Blitz: Addressing the Rise in Fatal Agriculture Accidents

The idyllic image of rural life often obscures a harsh reality: agriculture is one of Australia’s most dangerous industries. In NSW, a concerning increase in fatal agriculture accidents has prompted a proactive response: the NSW Farm Safety Blitz. But what’s driving this rise, and what steps are being taken to protect those who work the land?

The Alarming Statistics: Why a Farm Safety Blitz?

Recent data paints a grim picture. The 2025 Safer Farms Report revealed that NSW recorded the highest number of farm fatalities in the nation in 2024, with 19 lives lost. This surge contributed to a nationwide doubling of on-farm deaths compared to the previous year. SafeWork NSW statistics further highlight the issue, with agriculture accounting for one in five worker deaths across the state. The numbers speak for themselves: a renewed focus on farm safety is not just necessary, it’s critical.

SafeWork NSW: Taking Action

In response to the alarming trend, SafeWork NSW has launched a targeted Farm Safety Blitz. This initiative involves proactive inspections of agricultural workplaces across regional NSW. These inspections align with SafeWork NSW’s 2025-2026 annual regulatory priorities, with a focus on:

  • Mobile Plant and Equipment: Tractors, quad bikes, side-by-side vehicles (SSVs), and other machinery are essential to farming, but they are also a leading cause of fatalities and serious injuries.
  • Fixed Machinery: Augers, harvesting equipment, and other fixed machinery pose significant risks if not properly guarded and maintained.
  • Vehicles: Safe operation of all vehicles on farms, including cars and trucks, is crucial to prevent accidents.

During these blitzes, inspectors assess various aspects of farm safety, including:

  • Machine Guarding: Ensuring that all machinery has adequate guards to prevent entanglement and other injuries.
  • Risk Management Plans: Evaluating the effectiveness of risk management plans in identifying and controlling hazards.
  • Plant Maintenance and Inspections: Checking that all plant and equipment is regularly maintained and inspected to ensure it is safe to operate.
  • Psychosocial Hazards: Addressing issues such as fatigue, stress, and bullying, which can contribute to accidents.

Common Hazards on NSW Farms

The agricultural sector presents a unique set of hazards. Farms often involve a combination of heavy machinery, chemicals, livestock, and challenging environmental conditions. Some of the most common hazards include:

  • Quad Bikes and SSVs: Rollovers are a leading cause of death and serious injury on farms.
  • Tractors: Tractor accidents, including rollovers and entanglement, are a significant concern.
  • Machinery Entanglement: Unguarded machinery, such as augers and harvesters, can cause amputations and other severe injuries.
  • Falls from Heights: Falls from ladders, roofs, and other elevated surfaces are a common cause of injury.
  • Chemical Exposure: Exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals can cause a range of health problems.
  • Livestock Handling: Working with animals can be dangerous, with the risk of kicks, bites, and crushes.
  • Electrical Hazards: Contact with overhead power lines and faulty electrical equipment can be fatal.
  • Drowning: Dams, creeks, and other bodies of water pose a drowning risk, particularly when operating machinery nearby.

Legal Obligations for Farmers in NSW

As a farmer in NSW, you have a legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of your workers, contractors, family members, and visitors. This responsibility is outlined in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW). Key obligations include:

  • Duty of Care: Taking all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety of everyone on your farm.
  • Consultation: Consulting with workers about health and safety matters that may affect them.
  • Risk Management: Identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing control measures.
  • Safe Work Environment: Providing a safe work environment, including safe plant and equipment, safe systems of work, and adequate training and supervision.

Practical Steps to Improve Farm Safety

While the legal obligations may seem daunting, there are many practical steps you can take to improve safety on your farm:

  • Conduct regular risk assessments: Identify potential hazards and assess the risks they pose.
  • Develop and implement safe work procedures: Clearly outline how tasks should be performed safely.
  • Provide adequate training and supervision: Ensure that all workers are properly trained and supervised.
  • Maintain plant and equipment: Regularly inspect and maintain all plant and equipment to ensure it is safe to operate.
  • Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE): Provide workers with appropriate PPE, such as helmets, gloves, and eye protection.
  • Install machine guarding: Fit guards to all machinery to prevent entanglement and other injuries.
  • Create exclusion zones: Establish exclusion zones around dangerous areas, such as operating machinery.
  • Manage fatigue: Implement strategies to manage worker fatigue, such as providing adequate breaks and limiting working hours.
  • Promote a safety culture: Encourage workers to report hazards and speak up about safety concerns.
  • First Aid: Ensure that you have adequate first aid facilities and trained personnel on site.

The Importance of Mental Health

In addition to physical safety, it’s important to address mental health on farms. Farmers often face significant stress due to financial pressures, isolation, and long working hours. This stress can contribute to poor decision-making and increase the risk of accidents.

SafeWork NSW recognizes the importance of mental health and urges farmers to be aware of their mental state and take steps to minimize psychosocial hazards in the workplace. This can include:

  • Promoting open communication: Encourage workers to talk about their concerns and seek help when needed.
  • Providing access to support services: Offer access to counseling and other support services.
  • Managing workload: Ensure that workers have a manageable workload and are not overworked.
  • Encouraging work-life balance: Promote a healthy work-life balance to reduce stress and prevent burnout.

Where to Find Help and Resources

Improving farm safety can seem like a daunting task, but you don’t have to do it alone. Numerous resources are available to help farmers in NSW create a safer work environment:

  • SafeWork NSW: SafeWork NSW provides a range of resources and services to help farmers improve safety, including advisory visits, safety rebates, and training programs.
  • NSW Farmers: NSW Farmers offers a Farm Safety Advisory Program in partnership with SafeWork NSW, providing practical tools and specialized advisors to improve health and safety on your farm.
  • Farmsafe Australia: Farmsafe Australia is a national organization dedicated to improving farm safety. They offer a range of resources and programs, including National Farm Safety Week.

A Call to Action

The rise in fatal agriculture accidents in NSW is a serious concern, but it’s not an insurmountable problem. By taking proactive steps to improve safety on our farms, we can protect our workers, our families, and our communities. The NSW Farm Safety Blitz is a crucial step in the right direction, but it’s up to all of us to make farm safety a priority.

Are you ready to make a change? Contact our firm today for a consultation to discuss your legal obligations and how we can help you create a safer farm environment.