Federated Farmers: Health, safety landscape shifts

Farm safety tutor Murray Holt. Photograph by Amos Chapple

Health and safety in the workplace is at the forefront of farmers' minds, if member enquiries to the Federated Farmers 0800 FARMING is anything to go by.

That is a good thing. Although other industries such as forestry have a higher rate of serious injuries and fatalities, in terms of raw numbers, agriculture contributes the most workplace fatalities of any employment sector and it has been rightfully identified as a priority for the recently formed regulator, WorkSafe New Zealand.

There are a number of reasons why agriculture has an elevated level or risk:

- Working in isolated areas.
- Working across large areas with challenging topography.
- Working in all weathers.
- A higher than average number of self employed people and an ageing workforce.

The Health and Safety Reform Bill may be on hold due to the General Election period, but changes are coming. Federated Farmers worked closely with government as the Bill was being developed and we submitted on both the exposure draft and the Bill itself.

Federated Farmers' submission has strongly emphasised the special nature of farming and the fact that a place of work is often also a home.

We also made the point that the last thing that agricultural community wants to see are landowners shutting the gates on walkers, hunters and fishers because of overly restrictive and costly obligations for their safety, being placed on the farmer.

Until the Select Committee reports back in the new Parliament, the specific changes to legislation are not settled but we do know that they are due; strengthening your responsibility for health and safety.

What won't change is what is and what isn't safe on your farm. Farmers are experts at the work they do, which includes a knowledge of how to undertake farming tasks safely.

As employers even if self employed, farmers need to ensure that health and safety is taken seriously on your farm and everyone working on the farm understands that.

Embedding a culture of safe work practice is essential to ensuring you are compliant with the law - even the new one.

Federated Farmers is working hard to make sure that the new legislation is fit for purpose and can be practically applied by all farming operations; from family farms to corporate models. Yet there is no doubt that health and safety outcomes have to improve.

WorkSafe New Zealand has a comprehensive guide and a number of specialist advice sheets available on their website.

Federated Farmers has a Occupational Safety & Health Policy and manual with hazard and accident registers available at a significant discount too while the Federation's legal advice line is a membership benefit at 0800 327 646.