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To make your farm a safer place you need to identify the potential dangers (hazards), work out what harm they could cause, then get rid of the danger or control it. You need to think about your work practices, environment and equipment when identifying things that could go wrong.

Consider what risks the following farming matters could pose:

• tractors without roll-over protection and tractor attachments with no guarding on power-take offs
• unguarded plant such as augers, post diggers and conveyors
• mobile plant such as harvesters, all terrain vehicles, forklifts, trailers and trucks
• plant and equipment (e.g. ladders, pruning tools, chainsaws, grinders, welding equipment)
• depression and stress, caused by adverse weather conditions, heavy workloads or financial uncertainty
• unpredictable animals such as cattle, sheep, horses and pigs
• manual handling – lifting heavy or awkward shaped objects or carrying, pushing, pulling and reaching for objects
• repetitive tasks such as picking fruit, pruning, packing and unpacking, digging and planting, and shearing sheep
• slips or trips resulting in a fall caused by wet and slippery indoor and outdoor surfaces, poor housekeeping, or uneven ground conditions
• improper handling and storage of chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, acids, alkalis, solvents or petroleum products
• fatigue, caused by inadequate rest, long hours, heat or cold, can slow reactions and affect judgment
• confined spaces such as vats, tanks and silos
• contact with power lines, electrical leads, cables and equipment
• falls involving elevated work platforms, ladders, trailers, trucks and utilities
• exposure to the sun

You also need to consider different conditions including terrain, weather, climate, seasonal work activities, staffing levels and intermittent use of casual labour. If you or your employees work alone, ensure that you have a communications strategy and develop an emergency response plan.

• You should also take into account that farming involves:
  physically demanding work
  
• long working hours
  
• working alone in isolated areas
  
• multi-tasking (e.g. mustering livestock while operating an all terrain vehicle on rough terrain).