Federated Farmers: Let's not have targets on our backs

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I don't consider myself injury prone though I've been hospitalised with a back injury and dislocated shoulder in the past year. Call it old age, or perhaps those years playing rugby are coming back to bite, but as a farmer staying fit is vital and that means being savvy around on-farm health and safety.

In the past year, Waikato Federated Farmers has hosted six health and safety seminars as we believe that all farms should have a health and safety plan.

It's not something to hesitate on. I decided to take action not just for my own welfare, but also because I have an obligation to set standards for my staff.

As an employer of many staff, I can't afford for them to get hurt let alone myself. When you milk 1100-plus cows, you can't milk them by yourself, so you become reliant on staff, and them turning up on time, keen and fit.

For me, it's not solely about making changes to satisfy WorkSafe either. I had already decided a few years ago to implement a health and safety plan for my farm.

You might find this surprising, but we bought bike helmets five years ago and have worn them ever since. Staff using quad bikes must also observe the 30km speed limit on-farm.

We believe strongly in providing a health and safety policy and procedures for our staff to follow.

Since introducing a plan there is regular farm meetings, with a new topic each month.

These meetings are not regimented or serious conversation, but more a 'heads up' on the dangers around activities staff might be encountering at the time.

We have modern machinery on our farm and this is regularly serviced by qualified people. Staff are encouraged to do regular checks and report any issues.

As a point of reference farm safety rules are kept at the cowshed and are written into job descriptions.

For any new employees, we always make sure they are paired with senior staff when they start. I also recommend drawing up a map of the farm so that no-go zones are clearly defined.

Above all, I've learned on-farm safety is always evolving and it's important to revisit your health and safety plan periodically.

This year, we built a bobby calf stand, so the truck drivers don't have to lift calves on the truck now. It saves their backs and mine.

If you happen to be driving past Lewisridge Farm you will notice our staff with their high vis overalls, raincoats, vests, and shirts. Neighbours often say we stand out, but hey, that's the point. I realise it costs and some farmers will be looking at the costs short term. But it is a bloody sight more expensive long-term if you don't.

Consider weekly ACC, casual labour costs and frustrations of training someone new, and be prepared for the insurance and ACC premiums hike!

We are not perfect and if a WorkSafe inspector visits, I may not pass 10/10 in a farm audit. I accept that, but at least I'm proactive making improvements on farm and changing the attitude of myself and my team to get safer outcomes on our farm.

So I encourage all farmers to look at your farm and consider if what you are doing is safe and whether it is compromising the wellbeing of staff.

You don't need a major overhaul overnight. But show intent and make small steps each year to a safer farm. Every step forward will contribute enormously to safer farms and better outcomes for our industry in attracting and retaining the best staff our industry needs going forward.

There's lots more I could write, but the headlines keep coming for farmers at the moment.

It's like a target on our backs, so let's collectively move the target and shift it towards having safer farms and let another industry grab the unwanted headlines for a change!