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ADVERTORIAL: FREE WHS PROGRAMS KEEP YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR FARM BUSINESS SAFE
FREE WHS PROGRAMS KEEP YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR FARM BUSINESS SAFE
Farms are risky workplaces, and it is important for those who work and live on farms to always be vigilant in managing safety risks.
While long term statistics of serious injuries and fatalities on farms have shown steady improvements over the years, recent data published by Farm Safe Australia indicates a reversal in 2022 with a higher number of serious injuries and fatalities occurring on farms compared to 2021. This serves as a sobering reminder for all parties involved, especially those who operate or work on farms, to invest renewed efforts to improve safety on farms.
Workplace health and safety on farm is everyone’s business, but the challenge of getting the right WHS framework in place can be complex, time consuming, and daunting for farmers.
To help make it easier, NSW Farmers delivers the NSW Farm Safety Advisory Program (FSAP), made possible with funding from the NSW Government, through SafeWork NSW. This free program provides farm businesses with specialised, practical support from advisors who understand the industry, through a series of dedicated workshops and farm visits.
Our expert advisors have been working with farmers on their WHS for years, and are accessible to support farmers in a group or one on one settings to discuss safety issues and provide practical resources.
A FARMER’S EXPERIENCE
Sara Roche took part in a general, online workshop about on-farm safety delivered by the FSAP in 2022.
“It was all very straightforward to do at home, in our own time,” Sara said. “If we had to wait to attend something locally, and then go into town and do it, the whole process would have been slower.”
Sara, who implemented several operational changes since her involvement with the program, said the program increased her confidence to manage on-farm WHS issues.
“The advisors were very clear, they just explained everything very well and made things very straightforward,” Sara said.
“Sometimes you think something is common sense, but sometimes it doesn’t hurt to be reminded about that common sense.”
She encouraged other farmers to get involved: “It’s free and it’s easy to access so there are definitely some big incentives there.”
If you want more information on the NSW Farm Safety Advisory Program, visit www.nswfarmsafety.org.au or contact the Farm Safety Advisors at nswfarmsafety@nswfarmers.org.au or on 1300 784 000.
