WorkSafe is reminding farmers to check on farm safety as it prepares to visit 600 sheep and beef farms towards the end of this year.

Principal Inspector for WorkSafe’s central region, Kim Severinson, says the visits are about helping farmers meet their responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

“It is all about engagement and education,” he says.

He says machinery guarding is a focus, with rotating shafts able to catch loose clothing in an instant.

“The best thing is to keep your distance from it, or go and switch your machine off.”

He says managing staff who work alone is another focus, along with safe handling of chemicals.

“There’s a lot of good simple controls that they can have in there.”

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