Farm safety

Rural properties can be dangerous places to live and work. Potential hazards are associated with vehicles, tractors, motorcycles, and quad bikes, as well as working at heights and manual handling risks.

Farming ranks among the most perilous occupations due to heavy machinery, remote work, and weather exposure, and part-time farmers face heightened injury risks due to limited skills and equipment compared to full-time counterparts.

Top on-farm risk areas

• Tractors and machinery.  
• Farm vehicles.
• Farm motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles.  
• Working with animals.
• Working from heights.
• Chemicals.
• Manual handling and strain injuries.
• Handling and storage of guns and ammunition.

Preventing rural injuries

Just like any work environment, there are legal requirements to ensure your property is a safe workplace. Be aware that standard house insurance excludes public liability and workers' compensation, which is mandatory for hired farm workers.

SafeWork NSW offers tools like the 'Farm safety self-assessment' for improving farm safety.

Tips include mapping property hazards, new employee inductions, and following a four-step hazard identification process:

1. identify hazards
2. assess potential harm
3. control or eliminate hazards
4. regularly review risk assessments.

Involve all workers and family members in this process and repeat it whenever property conditions change.

Is your farm safe for kids?

Child safety on farms is paramount. The major causes of child deaths and injuries on farms are dams, vehicles, machinery, motorcycles, and horses.

To protect children on farm, wherever possible identify and mitigate farm-specific risks, reduce hazards and always design for safety.  

1. Supervise children at all times.
2. Establish a secure fenced house yard for play.
3. Enforce known safety rules.
4. Use seat belts and restraints in cars, utes and trucks.
5. Prohibit children from riding on tractors, quad bikes, or on the back of utes.
6. Always wear helmets when riding bikes and horses.

Safety on rural roads

Driving in rural areas has particular hazards including unsealed surfaces, dust, stock, and wildlife. Road conditions can change abruptly, with sharp corners often unmarked, and hills reducing visibility. Always wear a seatbelt or helmet when riding a motorcycle, even for short trips between paddocks.

Roadside vegetation and wildlife

Large trees are common hazards on the edge of rural roads and native vegetation serves as wildlife habitat, which can be problematic at dusk and dawn. When encountering animals like kangaroos or wombats, it's often safer to hit them than swerve and lose control. After hitting an animal, assess its condition and contact organisations like WIRES for rehabilitation or euthanasia. If the animal is dead, move it off the road, prioritising your safety around traffic.

Other road users

Rural roads often accommodate school buses, cyclists, trucks, farm machinery, and animals. All are legitimate road users so be patient and use caution, most drivers typically pull over to allow passing when safe. Take care when approaching rail crossings as not all have safety lights or boom gates.

Livestock on roads

In unfenced areas near roads, stock may graze, especially near water sources. These areas should be signposted. Livestock can legally graze along fenced roads with a permit from Local Land Services, as long as the grazing area is signposted and they are not left unattended.

Rural landowners must maintain roadside fences to prevent livestock from roaming unattended. Notify the police if there is an immediate threat to public safety, otherwise, contact the local council.

Rural crime  

Rural crime can cost millions in NSW annually, and encompasses livestock, produce, fuel, equipment theft, illegal shooting, and trespassing.

To mitigate risks, heed NSW Police advice.

1. Record suspicious activity details and alert local police promptly.
2. Maintain fences, gates, and install 'Private Property' signs to deter trespassing (printable signs on NSW Police website).
3. Avoid advertising travel plans or absence periods on social media.
4. Regularly check equipment, maintaining a property plan highlighting storage locations.
5. Avoid leaving keys in vehicles or fuel pumps, and contemplate sensor lighting installation.

Mental health  

Living and working in regional, rural, or remote Australia is rewarding, but comes with unique challenges. Rural people are known for their practicality and resilience. However, rural life comes with stresses like extreme weather, financial uncertainty, and isolation, especially for those moving from urban areas.

Mental health services in rural areas are increasingly available. Reach out for support from family, friends, neighbours, GPs, or professional services during tough times.

Who to call for assistance

• NSW Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511 (24/7 statewide).
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 (confidential).
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7).
• MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78 (24/7).
• Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800 (24/7, up to 24 years old).
• Domestic Violence Line: 1800 656 463 (24/7).
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 (24/7).