Farmers and farm workers will be better informed on farm safety issues thanks to a user-friendly, portable reference guide produced for broadacre agriculture by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).

OH&S – a quick reference guide for broadacre agriculture is a pocket-guide to farm safety to help reduce farm accidents and injuries by making information readily available in a practical manner.

The booklet is a product of the RIRDC-managed Joint Research Venture for Farm Health and Safety which aims to increase the adoption of safe work practices on-farm and develop on-farm safety management packages for all major commodity groups.

RIRDC Senior Research Manager, Jane Fisher, said the booklet would make it easier for farmers and farm workers to treat workplace safety as a priority.

“There is a lot of information relating to occupational health and safety in agriculture but it is often desktop based or more suited to use in an office environment.

“This booklet is specifically designed so that farm workers can have a copy in the ute or tractor so they can quickly seek guidance on farm safety issues around the farm - while they’re on the farm,” Ms Fisher said.

“The quick reference guide will advise users of best practice standards and OH&S legislation governing jobs commonly performed by people involved in broadacre agriculture.

“For example it gives simple but effective advice on the use, handling and storage of chemicals, working at heights and in and around grain storage areas, and loading and unloading of trucks and other farm vehicles.

“It also outlines the responsibilities and obligations of all people involved in broadacre farming when it comes to occupational health and safety,” Ms Fisher said.

Key benefits of the booklet include:

• Providing farmers and agricultural workers with clear advice on safety practices;
• Reducing the risk of injury to people in the farm workplace; and
• Reducing incidents with environmental impacts such as chemical spills.

OH&S – a quick reference guide for broadacre agriculture was a project undertaken by DIRT Management as managers of the Warakirri Agricultural Trusts and O’Callagahan Rural Management (ORM) with funding from RIRDC.

The Joint Research Venture for Farm Health and Safety is a partnership between Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation and the Grains, Sugar, Cotton and Rural Industries Research and Development Corporations, and is managed by RIRDC. The Venture invests in R&D to enhance the wellbeing and productivity of rural industries through improved occupational health and safety and safe systems of work on farms.

Copies of the booklet can be obtained through RIRDC by calling 02 6271 4160 or visiting the website at www.rirdc.gov.au or through Warakirri Agricultural Trusts on 03 5381 6913 or ORM on 03 5441 6176.

Media enquiries:
Danny O’Brien – RIRDC Communications Manager – 02 6271 4175 or 0438 130 445, email – danny.obrien@rirdc.gov.au