Farm visitors urged to keep safe this holiday period
Holiday-goers visiting rural properties across the Christmas and New Year period are being reminded to follow the safety rules of property owners and keep in mind most farms are also workplaces.
Acting Head of SafeWork NSW John Tansey said safety is everyone’s business and extends to not only workers but family members, visitors, customers and volunteers on the farm.
“There are many dangers on farms, from silos, chemicals and workshops, to animals, quad bikes, electrical and water hazards, as well as other dangerous ‘no go zones’ which account for a high proportion of serious incidents,” Mr Tansey said.
“Children aged under 16 should never, under any circumstances, be on adult-sized quad bikes, even when carried as a passenger. Everyone should wear a helmet to protect against head injury and a seat belt in vehicles.
Tragically, 23 children have been killed in quad bike incidents in Australia since 2011 and on average more than 80 children in NSW are hospitalised each year with serious injuries from quad bike use.
“A great idea to ensure visitors are aware of dangers is to compile a list of farm safety rules specific for visitors and ensure if they are operating a vehicle or equipment, they are competent and adequately trained to do so.
For further information on how to make the holiday season safe for your farm or rural workplace, see SafeWork’s Farm Safety Assessment Tool and A-Z of Farm Safety.
Farmers and businesses can take advantage of SafeWork’s free advisory visit service to help them create an action plan to address safety issues.
Eligible agricultural businesses may be able to apply for rebates to improve safety at their workplace. A quad bike rebate of up to $2000 and a small business rebate of up to $1000 are available.