Safer farms: Going beyond the checklist

Just as Nigel was heading home, he noticed a long-term employee heading towards a group of cows that had got out.

“Nigel looked away for just a moment and when he looked back, she had lost control of the quad bike and rolled it into the paddock,” Peta explained.

Fortunately, the employee only sustained minor injuries. Peta and Nigel say it was the safety equipment and prior training that stopped the situation from being much worse.

“Our employee that rode the bike is one of our most diligent employees. She's done all the training – she had all the proper equipment on and did the right thing, but she had just lost her attention,” Peta said.

“Farms can be risky places – whether it’s stepping down from a tractor or walking across uneven ground, hazards are part of the landscape.

“And the biggest thing that we can never control or predict, is the human factor and that decision-making right at the moment when you're under pressure or stress or just distracted.”

Following incidents like this one, attention is focused on the safety practices that have been put in place by farm owners and operators.

“We, as employers, feel it’s our responsibility to have routine safety practices in place that we not only enforce but also follow ourselves,” Peta said.

In May, Peta participated in Dairy Australia’s SAFER Farms program to take that commitment further.

The SAFER Farms program supports people from across the dairy industry – suppliers, owners, managers and employees – to improve farm safety by using the SAFER system model: See it, Assess it, Fix it, Evaluate it, Review it.

It offers practical tools to build a simple and usable safety system, helping farmers turn their Farm Safety Manual and compliance tasks into something that works day-to-day.

Since completing the program, Peta has worked to implement each part of the SAFER model on their farm: identifying hazards (See it), considering the level of risk (Assess it), putting control measures in place (Fix it), checking how they’re working (Evaluate it), and revisiting systems regularly to keep improving (Review it).

“I think we need to be always evolving as far as safety and learning goes,” Peta said.

“You can't just prevent things from happening completely, but initiatives such as the SAFER Farms program look at reducing risks as much as possible."

Throughout the day, program participants shared stories of near misses and accidents that have left a lasting impression.

Peta said sharing stories is key to shifting the culture – not to celebrate close calls or toughness, but to treat these moments as wake-up calls and learning opportunities.

She encourages others to speak up and make change before someone gets seriously hurt.

“It’s so good to hear others’ stories, perspectives and approaches. It allows you to draw from all these different experiences when moulding your own approaches,” she said.

“These stories really bring accidents and near-misses on farm into focus. People can connect and relate to these scenarios, serving as a strong reminder that these things can – and do – happen.”

According to Peta, safety has to absolutely become the number one priority.

"Farming has long been built on resilience and getting the job done, but that can sometimes mean safety takes a back seat,” she said.

“Now’s the time to create new habits and make safety part of the everyday, with support from programs like SAFER Farms. At the end of the day, it’s our responsibility to make sure every employee has what they need to get home safely."

For help implementing a safety plan – or improving an existing one – explore Dairy Australia’s online tools and resources: Farm Safety & Wellbeing.

To learn more about the SAFER Farms program or for personalised support, contact your Dairy Australia regional office.