Dairy

Safety information for the dairy sector.

Safety alert

Farmer fatally crushed after jumping from tractor cabin

Farmer stories

Matt and Alli Reid are the owners of a 1700-acre dairy farm with roughly 700 cows in Carlisle River, not far from Colac. As part of our ‘It’s never you, until it is’ campaign, Matt and Alli Reid share their story about developing a positive safety culture on-farm and the flow-on benefits for their business.

Agriculture: Dairy cattle farming and milking

Hazards

Hazard 1
Chemicals (eg during cleaning)
Obtain material safety data sheet (MSDS) for all dangerous goods and hazardous chemicals in your workplace, and ensure employees have access to them.

Treat all chemicals as potentially dangerous or hazardous to health, unless MSDS state otherwise.

Undertake a review of all chemicals to determine whether work processes require their use, or if safer chemicals or processes can be used.

Ensure chemicals are mixed in a ventilated area, on a surface that can be readily cleaned, and with close access to clean reticulated water for cleaning or first aid.

Train employees how to work safely with hazardous chemicals.

Provide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing (eg gloves and masks).

Develop a plan for dealing with chemical emergencies or spillage that includes first aid and emergency contacts.
Hazard 2
Interaction with livestock
Separate employees from livestock where reasonably practicable and ensure the risk of being trapped is controlled (eg provide escape routes).

Remove aggressive or troublesome cows from the herd.

Train employees how to handle livestock safely (eg working in pairs, maintaining safe distances, exercising additional caution when handling bulls or cows at calving time).
Hazard 3
Manual handling (eg milking)
Ensure that the work area is designed to allow employees to milk livestock within reach and in a comfortable position (eg between shoulder and hip height, without the need for overreaching or sustained bending).

Where practicable, use automatic cup removers and design the cups-on / off area so the standing height of employees can be altered to suit the height of the task.

Install rubber ‘fatigue’ matting in the pit.

Vary tasks to minimise hazardous manual handling, including rotating between cups-on and cups-off positions.
Hazard 4
Using tools and equipment
Provide appropriate tools and equipment and ensure they are used and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications (eg ensure guards are secure and function as designed).

Undertake regular maintenance checks of gates and latches, eliminate sharp edges and catch points, lubricate moving parts regularly and repair any damage.

Turn off power and power down before undertaking cleaning or maintenance tasks.

Train employees to safely use tools and equipment.

Ensure employees remove all jewellery, tie long hair back, and wear appropriate clothing with no loose straps when working with or near plant with moving / revolving parts.
Hazard 5
Using tractors and other plant
Provide the most suitable powered plant (eg tractors, quad bikes) for the task and ensure they are used, inspected and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.

Ensure tractors, and where appropriate, other mobile plant, are fitted with roll-over protection structures (ROPs) and seatbelts.

Ensure vehicles used are in good working order and fit for purpose having regard to loads, attachments, and terrain.

Guard all moving machinery parts such as the tractor power take off (PTO) or post hole diggers.

Guard entire length of PTO and couplings, and ensure guards are secured at all times.

Ensure PTO cover is in good working order, fitted correctly and chained to prevent it turning with the PTO.

Train employees how to safely use plant (eg never get on or off a moving vehicle, always use three points of contact and hand holds when climbing into or out of a tractor, check ground surface before exiting high vehicles, avoid jumping from heights, never start a tractor while outside the vehicle, ensure attachments are secure and cannot fall when detached from vehicle).

Ensure employees remove all jewellery, tie long hair back, and wear appropriate clothing with no loose straps.
Hazard 6
Wet muddy and uneven surfaces
Fit suitable hand rails on stairs.

Install non-slip matting, textured concrete / metal surfaces.

Provide adequate light and ventilation.

Maintain floors and steps in a good condition.

Ensure floor surfaces in work areas are kept clean and clear of clutter and obstructions.

Improve traction in yards for cattle and people through surface scouring and algae removal by high-pressure washing.

Ensure employees do not jump from vehicles or other high surfaces.

Make sure a system for cleaning spillages is in place and that it is followed. Clean up spills immediately.

Ensure employees wear appropriate footwear (eg non-slip, robust).
Hazard 7
Zoonoses (eg Q-Fever)
Ensure employees are protected from zoonotic diseases (eg dust minimisation programs, ready access to hand washing facilities, effective ventilation, prompt disposal of dead animals and waste products, vaccination - including Q fever).

As part of induction, provide information on zoonoses and the correct procedures for vaccination.

Provide appropriate clothing and protective equipment for employees, such as aprons, rubber boots, gloves, goggles and other skin protection and make sure that it is worn when coming in contact with animal by-products and wastes.

'If you are injured at work' poster

Employers must display an 'if you are injured at work' poster in every workplace. You can download and print a poster in English as well as Arabic, Chinese simplified, Chinese traditional, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese.

Download a poster

News and alerts

Monday 31 August 2026

A Cudgewa dairy farmer and dedicated community volunteer has become the first ever woman to be crowned Footy's Favourite Farmer.

Tuesday 21 July 2026

A father and son from Gippsland are highlighting the importance of working safely on and around tractors as WorkSafe publishes new resources to support Victorian farmers.

Friday 12 June 2026

WorkSafe has charged the operator of a Gippsland farm after a worker died while operating a bale wrapper in November 2024.

Dairy

Safety alert

Farmer stories

Agriculture: Dairy cattle farming and milking

Hazards

Chemicals (eg during cleaning)

Interaction with livestock

Manual handling (eg milking)

Using tools and equipment

Using tractors and other plant

Wet muddy and uneven surfaces

Zoonoses (eg Q-Fever)

'If you are injured at work' poster

Safety, it does more

than keep you safe.

News and alerts

Dairy producer makes Footy’s Favourite Farmer history

Steer away from tragedy with safer tractor operation

Charges following farm machinery death

Information

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