Farmsafe WA Alliance A not for profit, non government organisation MAY. Inspiring Safe Farming

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1 MAY Farmsafe WA Alliance A not for profit, non government organisation Update encouraging and leading the way to safer farming - Inspiring Safe Farming Don t forget to Like us on Facebook by clicking the image below! Postal Address: PO Box 1003, Bentley DC, Bentley WA 6983 Street address: 3 Baron-Hay Court, Kensington, Perth, WA, 6151 Phone: (08) Fax: (08) Farmsafe WA Alliance encourages farmers to be prepared for seeding and to consider safety precautions whilst seeding. Farm safety issues to consider during this time include: The condition and serviceability of equipment and plant (particularly tractors) Ensuring adequate lighting of sheds and workshops to allow work to be done safely Non-slip surfaces to prevent falls Keeping control of fatigue, due to the long hours likely to be worked during seeding Ensuring satisfactory levels of competence, adequate training & safety inductions of all workers hired Ensuring that the presence of children is reduced and/or strictly controlled, as often farms are homes & workplaces in one It is also vital to conduct a general safety check of the farm including a check of hazards such as rollover protection, steps and handrails, seatbelts, guarding of exposed and moving parts including power take-offs. Also check brakes, tyres, lighting etc. on a daily basis. A work systems check is also important, including issues such as no passengers ; bystanders must be clear, safe work procedure in case of boggy or similar treacherous terrain; appropriate risk controls such as wide wheel tracks or traveling in low gear; and functioning communications gear.

2 Casual Workers In Western Australia, around 10 young workers per day suffer a work related injury requiring one or more days off work. At least one of these will be a severe injury resulting in a long period off work. Despite their short time at the workplace, casual workers must be provided with safety and health training, instruction and information so they can work safely. There is generally a greater need to provide this to casual workers because they may be at increased risk of injury or harm because of the following: They are unfamiliar with the workplace, systems of work and their work tasks It includes: They are unfamiliar with the hazards and risks and safe Providing and maintaining safe workplaces, plant and work practices for these systems of work so workers are not exposed to There may be a casual or different attitude towards hazards their role and/or health and safety by the workplace or Providing information, instruction, training and the workers themselves supervision so workers can work safely There is a lot of variation in job tasks with frequent changes They have to undertake short-term intensive or repetitive manual tasks There is limited ongoing supervision, training and development They lack confidence to raise safety issues As an employer, you have a general duty of care for workers safety and health. This involves providing and maintaining, as far as practicable, a working environment where workers, including short-term transient workers, are not exposed to hazards. Consulting and cooperating with safety and health representatives (if any) and other workers regarding OH&S in the workplace Ensuring safe use, cleaning, maintenance, transportation and disposal of substances and plant used in the workplace Providing personal protective clothing and equipment (PPE) however, this should only be considered when other control measures are not practicable or to increase protection. Where it is not practical to avoid the presence of hazards at the workplace, employers must provide adequate PPE as far as practicable, without any cost to the worker. Workers from non-english speaking background and safety inductions The training, instruction and information given to workers from non-english speaking background should be provided in an appropriate format that takes into account their background. This may mean providing additional training and checks to ensure the safety instructions are understood. Written procedures and signs should not be the main source of safety information, as there may not be time for people to take them in or there may be difficulties in understanding them. Employers must ensure that discussions and demonstrations have been held on the safe work procedures. The employment arrangements need to allow adequate time for an induction to occur before work commences and adequate time for workers to read and understand any written information and instructions. For further information on Migrant Workers and Casual Workers, please contact Farmsafe WA on or documents can be downloaded from worksafe.wa.gov.au

3 A Guide for Migrant Workers and Employers Managing safety and health issues for migrant workers should be considered within the context of safety and health management for all workers. As an employer you have a general duty to provide and maintain, as far as practical, a working environment where workers are not exposed to hazards. This includes: Providing and maintaining safe workplaces, plant and systems of work so they do not expose workers to hazards; Providing information, instruction, training and supervision so workers can perform their work safely; Consulting and cooperating with safety and health representatives (if any) and other workers regarding occupational safety and health at the workplace. Ensuring safe use, cleaning, maintenance, transportation and disposal of substances and plant used in the workplace; and Providing personal protective equipment however, this should be considered only when other control measures are not practical or to increase protection. Know your workforce and its needs As an employer, you have an obligation under your duty of care responsibilities to adapt your work practices according to the different needs of your workers. The key to maintaining a safe workplace is matching job-task demands with an individual s abilities and skill sets. This can be achieved through various processes, including: Identifying workplace hazards and conducting risk assessments, which are appropriate to the cultural needs of the workers; Pre-placement discussions; Ongoing consultation and communication; Liaison with safety and health representatives; and Monitoring and reviewing workplace practices. Medical observation and/or assessment; Specific issues for migrant workers Issues to consider for migrant workers may include: Language barriers; Cultural or religious differences; Literacy difficulties; Limited knowledge of local legislation and safety standards; and Reluctance to engage with authority figures. Arrange for any necessary support to be provided by others within the workplace; and Encourage supervisors to be understanding and approachable. In Western Australia, the law requires that a high standard of safety must be provided at your workplace, and that you are not injured or harmed because of your work. Making workplaces safer relies upon the employer and employees working together. Employers have a responsibility to provide, as far as practicable, a safe workplace. This is called a duty of care. You as an employee, also have a duty of care to work safely and not affect the safety and health of others. The law in Western Australia also requires the employer to consider how to convey information about safety to those with a limited knowledge of English, or those with other specific needs. Participating in safety matters at the workplace As an employee, there are different ways you can participate in ensuring safety and health at your workplace. You can do this by: Talking directly to your employer, supervisor and co-workers about any concerns you may have; Notifying the supervisor or employer of any hazards or injuries, or potential hazards or injuries; Participating in training on any procedures with which you are unfamiliar; Asking questions about any matters you do not understand; Where required, requesting information and training be provided in an appropriate format to suit your needs, for example through the use of an interpreter or translator; and Where there are safety and health representatives or a safety and health committee, raising issues with them. As an employer, therefore you may need to: Consider how to convey information about safety to those with a limited knowledge of English; Consider accessing English language support for workers; For further information, please contact Farmsafe WA on or visit

4 Machinery Guarding The National Farm Injury Data Centre has found that there is on average, I death and 16 workers compensation claims each year involving grain augers. There would be many more injuries that are not recorded in the official workers compensation figures, as most day to day work on farms is undertaken by selfemployed farmers and their families. It s likely that there are around 60 serious injuries involving farm augers each year. Effective guarding would prevent these serious injuries. Manufacturers of machinery and equipment are legally required to make sure dangerous parts are safety guarded so that operators and others are protected from injury. There are concerns however that old farm machinery is sometimes poorly guarded. Original guarding may have been removed for maintenance and not put back, or extra moving parts like wheels and pulleys may have been added for various other uses. There may be times when an operator may need to reach over, under, around or into a machine while it is running. If so, any moving parts or other hazards must be appropriately guarded from human contact. A guard may be any shield, cover, casing, or physical or electronic barrier, intended to prevent contact between a hazardous machine part and any part of a person or person s clothing that cannot be removed by any person. Farmsafe WA is serious about farm safety and understands well the demands placed on our farming community especially as six members of the Farmsafe Committee are each themselves farmers. For further information on Farmsafe WA, visit our website. If you require safety resources on machinery guarding, do not hesitate to contact the Farmsafe WA office on Farm Machinery Safety Grain Augers Grain augers cause many injuries, especially to arms, hands, fingers and feet being caught in unguarded, belts, pulleys and flights. Moving raised augers around overhead power lines is causing electrocution. Augers are also toppling and collapsing causing crushing injuries, because they are being moved before they are emptied and lowered. Guard auger hoppers and exposed flights. A grain auger industry standard for the retro fitment of auger guards is available at Guard all auger pulleys, drive belts and shafts Check for overhead power lines before raising or moving augers Consider placing overhead power lines around silos and grain handling areas underground Empty and lower augers before moving them Post Hole Diggers Consider replacing older posthole diggers with a post driver Guard all PTO drive shafts Wear close-fitting clothing to avoid entanglement in the posthole auger Keep all bystanders away from operating posthole augers Do not operate posthole diggers alone Motors, Pumps, and Maintenance Drive shafts on pumps, motors and machinery cause many farm injuries. Keep operator manuals readily accessible for safe machinery operation and maintenance Turn off and chock all machinery and motors before performing any maintenance Build a guard for all exposed drive shafts Replace all guards after maintenance and before operating any machinery Have a first aid kit and fire extinguisher close by in the workshop or in the vehicle / tractor

5 Responsibilities for workplace health and safety What are EMPLOYERS responsibilities for workplace health and safety? TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND HEALTHY WORKPLACE As an employer, you must ensure the work environment and the way workers carry out their work is safe and healthy, regardless of the type and terms of their employment. This includes protecting them from both physical and psychological workplace hazards, such as slippery floors, lifting heavy loads, faulty or unguarded machinery and equipment, chemicals, bullying, violence and fatigue. Consider the tasks you give to new and young workers, given their skills, abilities and experience. TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND SUPERVISION As an employer, you must make sure the workers have enough information, training and supervision to enable them to work safely. This training should: Show workers how to do their job safely and how to recognise hazards on the job. Provide and show them how to safely use the necessary machinery and equipment. Provide and show them how to safely wear and use personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety footwear and goggles. Show them how to report any safety concerns or hazards. Help them to get to know the workplace layout, their immediate supervisor, health and safety representative and workmates. Make it easy for new and young workers to ask questions don't assume they will ask. TALKING HEALTH AND SAFETY As an employer, you are responsible for sharing information with workers about workplace health and safety matters, including: Asking for their input when looking at any workplace hazards and ways to control those hazards. Discussing new machinery and equipment when it is introduced into their work area. Discussions at team or toolbox meetings where health and safety concerns can be raised. Discussions with health and safety representatives. Western Australian College of Agriculture -HARVEY- What are NEW AND YOUNG WORKERS responsibilities for workplace health and safety? TO WORK SAFELY Look after yourself and others by: Following all reasonable instructions for doing the job Following workplace procedures Not putting yourself or your work mates at risk Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) as required Reporting unsafe situations and injuries to your immediate supervisor, employer and/or health and safety representative. Take induction and training seriously. Know and follow the health and safety requirements of your job. If you aren't sure how to do something safely, ask for help or training before you start the task. TO ASK IF YOU RE NOT SURE Work is important, but your life is more important. Some ways you could ask your immediate supervisor for help: I m not sure how this works, could you spare a few minutes to show me again? I think I ve got the hang of this, but can you watch me to make sure I m doing everything right? I m still a bit uncomfortable with this, would you mind explaining it/ showing me again? TO REPORT YOUR CONCERNS If you are concerned about your own or your work mates' health and safety, talk to your immediate supervisor, employer and/or health and safety representative straight away. This might be about slippery floors, lifting heavy loads, faulty or unguarded machinery and equipment, chemicals, bullying, violence or fatigue. If you work through a Group Training Organisation or Labour Hire agency, report your concerns to them as well. If you are a work experience or structured workplace learning student, you should also speak to your teacher or trainer about your concerns. Saturday 24th May am to 2.30pm At our new College Mornington Road, Wokalup Lunch between pm OPEN DAY Take a bus tour of the farm sections Look around the D&T buildings at student projects Information sessions for prospective student parents

6 Safety Awareness Sessions Presented by independent OHS professional Steve Taylor, Prompt Safety Solutions NARROGIN Tuesday 27th May 6:00pm-8:00pm Dryandra Country Visitor Centre Narrogin KATANNING Tuesday 10th June 6:00pm-8:00pm Katanning Country Club Katanning JERRAMUNGUP Tuesday 24th June 6:00pm-8:00pm Jerramungup Community Resource Centre Cost: $77.00 (inclusive GST) per person Topic: Health and Safety Risk Assessment & Legislative Requirements Do you have employees (including family), use contractors, casual or seasonal labour? How would you cope if a family member or one of your workers was to be involved in a significant accident on your property or your business premises? If WorkSafe needed to investigate an accident, would you be able to provide to the evidence required to show that you had, as far as practicable, assessed the risk, consulted and trained the workforce and put the necessary controls in place to have avoided the accident? This practical 2 hour OSH Awareness Session is designed to help employers and organisations understand their Duty of Care and how to take Reasonable Steps to prevent accidents in the workplace through the implementation of the following legislative requirements Consultation with workers Risk Assessment Hazard Identification Risk Control Induction & Training Supervision Monitoring & Recording Injury & Illness reporting - and more Learn how Prompt Safety Solutions tailor Risk Assessment and Training tools to meet OSH Legislative Requirements that are practical and easy to implement for your individual business circumstances and budget. For registration and enquiries please contact Steve Taylor Mobile: stevetaylor@highway1.com.au A SAFE WORKPLACE IS NO ACCIDENT Safety message supported by Farmsafe WA

7 What s Happening Work Safety Awards 2014 The WA awards are now open for submissions from individuals, groups and organisations. Why not submit an entry so that achievements in safety and health are celebrated and get some recognition? Have you come up with an innovation to make your workplace safer? Do you know an OSH representative, OSH manager, OSH officer or co-worker who has made a difference at work? Does your workplace have an impressive safety and health management system or practices? Whether it was an everyday achievement or a large scale initiative, your achievements or those of your workmates could be worthy of a Work Safety Award WA in Entries close 5.00pm, 4 July There are four categories for the Awards Best workplace safety and health management system (a) Private sector (b) Public sector Best solution to an identified workplace safety and health issue Best workplace safety and health practices in small business Best individual contribution to safety and health (a) No formal OSH responsibilities (safety & health reps are encouraged to enter) (b) OSH manager/person with OSH responsibilities WorkSafe Lunchtime Forum -OSH and labour hire workers- Who is responsible for safety? Labour hire work arrangements are not uncommon in WA workplaces. Come along to learn about the obligations of host employers and labour hire agents regarding the safety and health legislation. These include arrangements such as: part-time workers seasonal workers workers who move in a highly interchangeable variety of workplaces workers When: Wednesday 28th May Time: 12:30-1:30pm Venue: West centre, Level 6, 1260 Hay St, West Perth To register, please contact WorkSafe on

8 Farmsafe WA Membership A message from the Executive Officer, Sheila Payne on behalf the Board of Farmsafe WA: Thank you and appreciation to all our current members who have supported our organisation over the past years, your loyal contributions have played an integral role into where Farmsafe WA is placed today. Annual renewal subscriptions are now aligned to our financial year which means the 2014/15 membership will come into force from 1 st July Your renewal invitation will therefore be sent to you during June and we trust you will consider maintaining your wonderful support. Please be reassured that the income received through our members annual subscriptions is vitally important to keep Farmsafe WA operational. As our aim is to protect farming families and workers through better safety awareness and practices, these proceeds go directly back to the rural community by means of safety resources, training guidance and general support for your health, safety and wellbeing. We always welcome new Members so for those interested in joining us and support the need to make agriculture a safer industry for the future, please visit our website for membership options or phone me directly on It will be a pleasure to speak with you Major Supporters of Farmsafe WA Alliance