It’s National Farm Safety Week!

This year’s theme is ‘Innovative, Safe and Healthy’.

National Farm Safety Week is held each year to raise awareness of farm safety issues across Australia. In 2018, National Farm Safety Week runs from Monday 16 July to Sunday 22 July.

The 2018 National Farm Safety Week theme highlights the importance of business and industry continuing to work together to increase the well-being of Australian farmers through innovation and improved attention to health and safety outcomes.

The Serious About Farm Safety Guide

In line with the 2018 theme, the ‘Serious About Farm Safety Guide’, which was developed by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and industry representatives, provides tips for employers as to where they can be more innovative about health and safety at their workplace. The Guide outlines the following elements to methodically and comprehensively ensure the safety of workers:

• legislative requirements for workers’ compensation
• safety management systems
• identifying and assessing risks
• implementing suitable safe work procedures
• general hazard information for the agricultural industry.

A simple health and safety system will reduce the risk of workplace injuries and can help to reduce your workers’ compensation premium.

Workplace health and safety policies and procedures should form the framework of a health and safety system.

You can check out the guide here.

What does this mean for employers?

Farm Safety Week is an important reminder for the agribusiness sector to reflect on safety and ensure that they have policies and procedures in place to protect their business. Our workplace health and safety team have model policies, which can be tailored to fit your needs.

Cooper Grace Ward also has a dedicated agribusiness team with a genuine understanding of the unique needs of this sector and its supply chain – from the farm and production to marketing and sales. To find out how else we can assist you, please visit our website.