Visitors, Children, Traffic
A dairy farm is a workplace and a home at the same time, so a farm business must keep visitors, children and traffic safe alongside its everyday work. The challenge is that farms combine hazardous animals, equipment, environments and substances with family life and visitors.
Children living on and visiting farms can be exposed to hazards not present at most homes, which is why they need particular care.
Keeping people safe
- Visitors — give visitors and contractors a site-specific induction before they start, so they know the hazards and the safe areas.
- Children — use a child-safe play area that physically separates children from water, machinery and traffic, supervise closely, and set clear rules about where they can go.
- Traffic — plan how vehicles and people move around the farm so they are kept apart, with designated routes, parking, signage and safe areas for people on foot.
Maintained guidance: WorkSafe Victoria's children on farms information, the Child Safety on Farms guidebook (Making Our Farms Safer), and Safe Work Australia's general guide to workplace traffic management.
See the Children in the workplace policy on the Farm workplace policies page, and the visitor induction in the Standard Operating Procedures template library.
Common questions
Why are dairy farms higher-risk for children and visitors?
A farm is a workplace and a home at once, with animals, machinery, vehicles and substances that most homes do not have. Children living on or visiting farms can be exposed to hazards they would not normally meet.
Does a farm have a legal duty to visitors and children?
Yes. A farm business has a legal duty to provide a safe, healthy environment for everyone who comes to the farm — employees, contractors, family, visitors and members of the public.
How can a farm keep children safe?
Use a child-safe play area that physically separates children from hazards such as water, machinery and traffic, supervise closely, and set clear rules about where children can and cannot go.
What is traffic management on a farm?
Planning how vehicles and people move around the farm so they are kept apart — separate access points, designated routes and parking, clear signage, and safe areas for people on foot.