Operate tractors and machinery safely
While many agricultural businesses already have strong safety practices in place, recent incidents involving tractors highlight the importance of regularly reviewing machinery, safety systems and work practices to ensure risks remain well managed.
Tractor rollovers remain one of the leading causes of fatalities and serious injuries in the agricultural industry. Seatbelts and rollover protective structures (ROPS) are critical safety controls that can significantly reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a rollover incident.
Duty holders must also ensure risks associated with operating tractors and machinery are identified, assessed and controlled so far as is reasonably practicable.
This includes:
- ensuring tractors are fitted with compliant ROPS where required
- wearing a seatbelt whenever operating a tractor fitted with ROPS
- conducting regular inspections and maintenance of tractors, attachments and other machinery
- ensuring guards, safety devices and warning systems are fitted, functional and not bypassed
- providing workers with appropriate information, training, instruction and supervision
- assessing terrain and operating conditions before commencing work, particularly on slopes, near embankments or around waterways
- ensuring safe systems are in place for attaching, operating and maintaining implements and attachments
- removing defective plant from service until repairs are completed.
It is important to note that the agricultural use exemption for fitting tractors with ROPS ended in 2011, meaning that ROPS have been mandatory in this industry for 15 years.
Regular reviews of machinery, safety systems and work practices can help identify emerging risks and ensure controls remain effective.