WorkSafe has issued multiple Safety Alerts for the agricultural industry in the wake of a shocking run of farm deaths. Of the five confirmed workplace deaths that have already occurred in 2026, three occurred on farms.
This week’s first Safety Alert arises from a fatality related to the use of a quad bike with an unbraked trailer loaded with three live sheep. The load shifted in the trailer causing the quad bike to tip over, leading to the death of the farmer - Farmer fatally injured while towing a loaded trailer using a quad bike | WorkSafe Victoria.
The second Safety Alert is in response to a fatality that occurred when a group of workers were attempting to attach a hay rake to the drawbar of a tractor whilst the tractor engine was still running. One of the workers was crushed between the hay rake and the tractor when the tractor unexpectedly reversed - Person fatally crushed while assisting with attaching a hay rake to a tractor | WorkSafe Victoria
The issuing on these Safety Alerts coincides with the launch of a new agricultural campaign and advice around the safe transportation of seasonal workers on fruit and vegetable farms.
WORKSAFE LAUNCHES NEW AGRICULTURE CAMPAIGN
WorkSafe has launched a new agriculture safety campaign – “Safety, it does more than keep you safe” - focusing on the benefits that safety improvements can have on your farm and the benefits they can bring to your farm, family and future.
As part of the roll-out of this new farming safety campaign, WorkSafe provides a range of free resources to help you and your family stay safe on the farm and protect your legacy.
Pocket notebook – a handbook that helps farmers track maintenance jobs and record safety conversations with workers and contractors. To order copies, email [email protected] with your name, address, and the number of guides you need.
Safer cattle handling – provides practical tips to keep cattle handlers safe. Includes links to information on gates and latches, surfaces, yard maintenance, mustering, drafting, crushes, livestock loading and unloading, cattle behaviour basics, designing cattle yards for safety and efficiency, who has safety responsibilities, and a handy checklist.
Tractor safety - provides practical information to help keep farmers safe on tractors. Includes links to information on tractor stability, agriculture email updates, and a handbook for safe use of tractors with attachments.
Side-by-side vehicles – offers guidance on how to stay safe and control the risks associated with these types of vehicles. Includes information on roll over protection structures, seatbelts, doors and door nets. Guidance covers terrain, geo fencing, safe speeds, integrated vehicle monitoring systems, visibility and maintenance, as well as links to posters to keep farm workers focused on side-by-side safety.
Working with machines or vehicles poster – this downloadable poster contains information about the possible hazards of working with tractors, trucks and other vehicles, aimed at seasonal workers working with machines.
Read more: Campaign shows farm safety and success go hand in hand | WorkSafe Victoria
WORKSAFE - IS YOUR HARVEST TRANSPORT SAFE?
WorkSafe reminds horticulture and agriculture companies to ensure that they provide safe systems of work and safe modes of transport for their workers to move between fields or orchards safely during picking season.
Recent serious workplace incidents (including a fatality for which two employers have been fined a total of $1.65M) have prompted WorkSafe to instruct growers to never allow anyone to ride on attachments, including trailers, that are not designed to carry passengers.
When towing fruit bins with a tractor, employers must ask themselves how they will ensure that people cannot ride in the bins, on trailers or on draw bars? Can you modify or select trailers to avoid this?
Most trailers are designed to carry produce and equipment, not people. This means that there is a higher risk of roll-over and run over for people when riding on trailers. People should not ride on trailers. Where an employer does provide a trailer or towed attachment for moving people, the employer must ensure:
- It is designed to move people in a way that is safe and without risk to health.
- The safety equipment provides the rider with the same level of protection as the operator of the vehicle towing the trailer (such as roll-over protection, seats, seat belts, falling object protection).
Before beginning any working involving trailers on a farm, ask yourself the following:
- Can the task be done differently so that I do not need to use a trailer?
- Can I use a ute or truck instead? This removes the chance of a person being run over by a trailer or attachment.
- Can I move people around the farm another way, like with a mini-bus?
- Can the trailer and/or towed equipment be designed so that people cannot ride on them - for example, by eliminating flat areas on a fruit picking trailer where a person could stand or sit.
Employers must always provide appropriate information, instruction, training or supervision to their employees. This could include providing employees with instruction and training, or supervision on:
- The risks of riding on tractors, trailers or equipment that are not designed to move people.
- Using safer ways to move people around the farm, like vehicles such as mini-buses or cars.
WorkSafe publishes a range of easy to follow guides for farmers and growers to ensure they are complying with their duties and obligations to employees and persons other than employees, so that everyone can return home safely to their families and communities.
- Riding on trailers | WorkSafe Victoria
- Tractors | WorkSafe Victoria
- Agriculture | WorkSafe Victoria
- Horticulture | WorkSafe Victoria
- Plant, machinery and equipment | WorkSafe Victoria
- Farm machinery | WorkSafe Victoria
- Staying safe in side-by-sides | WorkSafe Victoria
- Safety gear for the farm | WorkSafe Victoria
- Fatigue on the farm | WorkSafe Victoria
- Spraying pesticides: Risk assessment tool for employers | WorkSafe Victoria
- Resources for Seasonal Workers