Agriculture safety learning network

Bringing farmers and experts together

Two agri-organisations have been funded to each develop a Safety Learning Network (SLN) tailored to their sub-industry and/or region of focus with the aim of improving safety on farms through collaboration with farmers and practical action.

ORM Pty Ltd

An initiative, led by ORM Pty Ltd, that worked with grain growers in the Wimmera / Mallee region to identify, test and demonstrate effective methods, models and tools that accelerate the adoption of improved health and safety practices.

The SLN ORM developed: Safer Farms, Families, Futures Network (S3F)

The S3F network operated with two core streams:

• Peer-to-peer learning group (P2P): worked with 14 individual businesses who participated in five peer-to-peer events to support the adoption of improved work health safety practices and the development of a more proactive, prevention focused farm safety culture. Birchip Cropping Group supported the delivery of the events.
• Community-based behavioural science (CBBS): Designed and tested the implementation and impact of a safety related community-based behavioural change intervention with individual grain farmers.

The participants addressed the key issues they were facing on farms:

• Development of induction processes.
• Establishing policies and procedures to support safety.
• Implementing hierarchy of control to manage risks.
• Signage of risk and hazards – identification on farm.
• Emergency management protocols.

Key Activities

P2P stream

Presenters from across Victorian Farmers Federation, Warrakirri Cropping, AgHealth Australia, Denise McLellan Consulting and Paul Livingstone of PJL WHS all facilitated the delivery of information, coaching and advice to the group participants at these events.

CBBS stream

A series of activities were undertaken in this stream to inform the development of a safety intervention. These included:

• Behaviour identification: identifying through research that a key behavior to change is the operation of machinery and equipment without appropriate guarding.
• Barriers and enablers: literature review and engagement with the growers (focus groups and surveys) to identify the barriers and enablers that inform the likely adoption of the selected behaviour.
• Development & delivery of behaviour change strategy: To motivate farmers to adopt improved behaviours, a campaign called the ‘last line of defence” was created. The campaign focused on the importance of appropriate machinery guards when operating augers and PTO’s. videos that provide safety tips for auger and PTO operations were created as part of the campaign.

Key outcomes

P2P

Changes, new safety systems or practices implemented to improve farm safety by S3F participants:

• All participants improved, formalised or updated their induction process.
• Workplace policies were implemented to set performance expectations.
• Reviewing potential OHS risks on-farm.
• Consulted with workforce about safety on-farm.
• More regular staff meetings and/or focused on safety.
• Emergency response procedures.
• Introduced incident or near-miss reporting.
• Farm machinery maintenance records.
• Improved procedures for operating augers and seeding machinery.
• Infrastructure improvements, including new chemical sheds built, new/improved staff amenities, sheep yards were re-engineered to fix gateways and loading ramps.

VEG Education

An initiative, led by Velisha Education Group, that worked with farmers in the horticulture industry to enhance farm safety by fostering a collaborative network of growers to identify enablers and barriers, develop targeted initiatives, and drive changes in safety practices.

The SLN VEG Education developed: Victorian Fresh Produce Network (VFPN)

By equipping farmers with knowledge and tools to improve safety practices, the VFPN sought to reduce workplace injuries and fatalities in the fresh produce sector. The network engaged directly with 12 farms across four growing regions in Victoria and shifted mindsets and behaviours toward improved risk management.

Key outcomes

• New or improved safe work system/s implemented on each participating farm, which included: traffic management, safe planting and picking operations, noise management and induction processes.
• Farm owners and managers demonstrated significant positive changes:
  • Increased awareness of occupational health and safety requirements.
  • Shift in attitudes to prioritise safety, starting at the leadership level.
  • More proactive approach to consulting staff on safety issues.
  • Better integration of safety into daily farm operations, including safety topics as regular agenda items in staff meetings.
  • Adoption of new communication tools like safety videos.
  • Adoption of new safety practices across a spectrum of hazards.
  • Improved management of risks.
  • Creation of a more collaborative environment where employees can voice safety concerns.

The pilot has made progress in strengthening industry partnerships and shifting management attitudes and behaviours. Laying the foundation for an improved safety culture.