OHS REPS @ WORK

Here are some resources of interest to the rural sector:

From the Victorian WorkCover Authority:

• The free  Farm Safety pack, which can be downloaded from the WorkCover website, or ordered by calling 1800 136 089 or emailing publications@workcover.vic.gov.au.
  
  
• A Practical Guide to Safety in the Dairy, takes a risk management approach to farm safety. Hazards addressed in the publication include confined spaces, manual handling, working at heights and chemical handling. This publication was updated in May, 2006 
  
  
• Falls Prevention in the Agriculture Sector  gives an overview of the Falls Prevention Regulations 2003 and provides assistance to farmers in identifying hazards, assessing and controlling risks in a wide variety of farming industries where employees/contractors/persons are required to work or access building or structures. In addtion to this, there's a series of guidance notes to support the prevention of falls regulations:
  
  
  
• Falls Prevention Above ground fuel tanks 
• Falls Prevention Advice and Compliance With OHS Regulations 2003 in the Agriculture sector 
• Falls Prevention Farm Forest Pruning 
• Falls Prevention Field Bins
• Falls Prevention Large bale hay carting
• Falls Prevention Silos
• Prevention Of Falls In The Transport Of Livestock
• Falls Prevention Windmills or Frost Preventer Towers
• Falls Prevention Working on Roofs
• Falls Prevention Milk Vats
• Falls Prevention Small bale hay carting
• Falls Prevention Solid separation pits, effluent ponds or lagoons
• Falls Prevention Vats and tanks
• Falls Prevention Accessing Trees
• Falls Prevention Wool Bale Loading
  
  
• A guidance note for farmers working with effluent ponds and tractors
  

Other Jurisdictions

• From NSW: a Safety Alert on Harvest Machinery
  
  
• From Queensland: a Code of Practice - Electrical Equipment in Rural Industry, made under the Electrical Safety Act, 2002. The Code provides "practical advice about how to manage electrical risk in rural industry work" and should be used by "employers and self-employed persons whose business or undertaking includes rural industry work, to ensure that their electrical safety obligations are met".
  
  
• From Tasmania: A new Workplace Safe publication Take Control of Safety on Your Farm: A Safety Management Tool for Farmers. While the kit is part of a targetted program for Tasmanian farms, it can also be ordered from outside the state by phoning 03) 62337657. The Kit can be downloaded from the Tasmanian WorkSafe  website. Also available to download are a set of 'Rural Infosheets' [pdf] on a range of topics.   
  

International

• A resource from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work specifically for the agricultural sector.  This website has resources on key issues in the sector including musculoskeletal disorders, transport, dangerous substances, biological agents.
  
  
• From the UK's HSE:
  • Manual handling solutions for farms [pdf] Help to avoid back, neck and limb disorders.
  • Handling and stacking bales in agriculture [pdf] Avoid ill-health and accidents when stacking bales.