Agriculture & Horticulture · Employer knowledge

Health, safety & critical risks

Focus management attention on the work that can cause serious harm — especially vehicles, machinery, animals, remote work and other critical risks relevant to your operation.

Under section 36 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, a PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers it engages or whose work it influences or directs, and must ensure other people are not put at risk by the work. This includes safe work environments, plant and structures, systems of work, and the safe use, handling and storage of plant and substances.

WorkSafe identifies agriculture as a high-harm sector and currently focuses particularly on farm vehicles, hazardous substances and machinery. Its agriculture guidance also highlights serious risks involving animals and work in difficult or remote environments. The risks that matter for a particular farm, orchard, vineyard or growing business still depend on the work actually being done.

What should a manager have in place?

Keep the system practical. WorkSafe says a farm health and safety system does not need to be complex, but it should identify existing and potential risks and the controls used to manage them. Eliminate risks where reasonably practicable and otherwise minimise them so far as is reasonably practicable.

Vehicles & mobile plantChoose vehicles suited to the job, terrain, load and conditions. Keep them maintained and make sure operators have the training, capability and protective equipment needed for the work.

Machinery & equipmentManage guarding, maintenance, isolation and safe operating practices for the machinery actually used. Do not wait for breakdowns before addressing safety-critical maintenance.

Animals & changing conditionsWhere animals are part of the operation, account for animal behaviour, facilities, worker positioning and changing conditions. Reassess controls when the task or environment changes.

Remote work & emergenciesConsider how people working alone or remotely will communicate, get help and be located if something goes wrong. Emergency arrangements should fit the property, work and response times.

Manager check

Have we identified the work in our operation that could cause death or serious harm?
Are the vehicles and machinery selected, maintained and used appropriately for the task and conditions?
Do operators have suitable training, capability or supervision before using vehicles, machinery or other higher-risk equipment?
Where animals are handled, are facilities, work methods and worker positioning considered as part of the risk controls?
Do people working alone or remotely have a workable communication and emergency plan?
Do we review controls when weather, terrain, workload, equipment, people or the work itself changes?
Are workers involved in identifying problems and improving the controls that affect their work?

WorkSafe agriculture guidance →WorkSafe farm H&S guide →Back to Agriculture & Horticulture Hub

NZQC provides practical educational information. It is not legal advice and does not certify that a provider is compliant. Check the official source and the requirements that apply to your service, contracts and scope.