Employers must provide a safe working environment for their workers, so far as is reasonably practicable. In addition to protecting the safety of your workers, you also must ensure that other people (such as drivers, visitors, contractors and the general public) are not exposed to risks as a result of your business.

You also have specific duties in relation to hazards such as:

• storage of dangerous goods
• manual handling
• noise
• falls
• confined spaces
• plant and machinery
• high risk work (e.g. forklift operation)
• hazardous substances and materials.

The employer’s obligations include:

• appoint a return to work co-ordinator
• develop and implement a return to work plan
• support and monitor your worker when they return to work.

If it is reasonably practicable, you must eliminate the risk by doing the work on the ground or on a solid construction. If this is not practicable, you must control the risk using the following measures in order of priority:

• use a suitable passive fall prevention device
• use a suitable work positioning system to ensure employees work within a safe area
• use a suitable fall arrest system to limit the risk of injuries in the event of a fall
• use a suitable fixed or portable ladder, or implement an administrative control. If you use a control measure other than working on the ground or on a solid construction, you must establish emergency procedures covering the rescue of an employee in the event of a fall and provision of first aid. If you are using only an administrative control, you must record what it is and the task for which it is being used. You must review (and, where necessary, revise) your risk controls if things change or at the request of a Health and Safety representative.

You must identify hazards associated with work in any confined spaces at your workplace and eliminate any risk involved. If it’s not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, you must reduce the risk, as far as reasonably practicable, taking into account:

• the nature of the confined space
• the oxygen level or contaminants within the space
• the work required to be done in the space
• any work done outside of the space that could increase the risk
• entries and exits
• emergency procedures required.

You have specific obligations to:

• isolate plant and services during work in a confined space
• ensure a safe atmosphere in the confined space and provide personal protective equipment including respirators
• prevent fires or explosions and control the presence of flammable gases or vapours
• have signage and procedures for entry and exit
• put in place emergency procedures
• have entry permits
• ensure continuous communication (e.g. standby person).

Information, training and instruction must be given to employees and any standby persons in relation to work in confined spaces. You must review (and, where necessary, revise) your risk controls if things change and your controls are no longer adequate or at the request of a health and safety representative.

You must identify hazards associated with plant and eliminate any risk involved.

If it’s not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, you must reduce the risk, as far as reasonably practicable, by:

• using plant that has a lower level of risk
• using engineering controls, or
• isolating the plant from people.

If there is still a risk after using these methods, you should reduce it by using administrative controls or personal protective equipment. You must review (and, where necessary, revise) your risk controls if things change or at the request of a health and safety representative. Employers must also comply with a number of specific risk control duties covering:

• guarding, operator’s controls (including stop controls and warning devices), installation and commissioning, maintenance and inspections
• powered mobile plant (including rollover protection for tractors and industrial lift trucks)
• electrical plant and electrical hazards
• plant that lifts or suspends loads, including lifts
• scaffolds
• provision of information, instruction and training to employees.

Since 1 July 2008, all forklift operators working in primary production and forestry operations have been required to hold a Licence to Perform High Risk Work. The operation of a tractor with a mast attachment is excluded from the regulations and does not require a licence. The new licensing system ensures:

• a competency based licence for forklift operators, which must be renewed every five years,
• protection against identity fraud through photo identification and security checks during the application process, and
  
• national consistency, allowing you to work anywhere in Australia.

For licensing enquiries, contact the WorkSafe Licensing Branch on 1300 852 562 or
e-mail licensing@worksafe.vic.gov.au

Four-wheeled motorbikes or quadbikes are becoming a leading cause of death and serious injury on Australian farms. Farmsafe Australia encourage the following safety principles:

• Select the safest machine to do the job.
• Always keep the quadbike properly maintained and tyres correctly inflated according to the
  manufacturer’s recommendations.
  
• Always wear a helmet when riding a quad bike.
  
• DO NOT allow riders under 16 years old to operate a quadbike.
  
• Never carry passengers.
  
• DO NOT carry heavy loads or overload a quad bike. They become more unstable and may rollover causing fatal crushing injuries.
  

More information: www.farmsafe.org.au/Quad Bike Safety on Australian Farms

As an employer you have the following duties in relation to hazardous substances:

Control risk

You must eliminate any risks associated with hazardous substances in your workplace.

If it’s not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, you must reduce the risk, as far as reasonably practicable, by:

• using a less hazardous substance or a safer form of the substance, or
• isolating employees from exposure, or
• using engineering controls.

You must review (and, where necessary, revise) your risk controls if things change and there is likely to be an increase in the risk to health, if medical reports show there is a problem or at the request of a health and safety representative. Some hazardous substances are prohibited for specific purposes, such as the use of abrasives containing crystalline silica for abrasive blasting. If any of the hazardous substances you use are scheduled carcinogens, you must hold a licence to use them. For licensing enquiries, contact the WorkSafe Licensing Branch on 1300 852 562 or e-mail licensing@worksafe.vic.gov.au.

Obtain and provide information on hazardous substances

Employers are required to:

• Keep a register of all hazardous substances supplied to your workplace
• Obtain a current Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each hazardous substance
• Keep the MSDS accessible to employees
• Not alter the information on an MSDS
• Ensure that containers in which hazardous substances are supplied are labelled
• Identify containers of waste.

Identify hazardous substances in plant

You must ensure that hazardous substances contained in a piping system, process vessel or plant that forms part of a manufacturing process are identified to anyone who may be exposed to them. You can do this by using a colour-coded sign system that follows the Australian Standard AS 1345 for Identification of Contents of Pipes, Conduits and Ducts.

Conduct atmospheric monitoring and health surveillance

Employees must not be exposed to an atmospheric concentration of a hazardous substance that exceeds any relevant exposure standard. If there is uncertainty about whether the exposure standard could be exceeded, you must carry out atmospheric monitoring, provide the results of the monitoring to employees and keep a record of the results and give the results of the monitoring to the employees involved. You must also provide health surveillance for employees exposed to certain hazardous substances and keep a record of the results.

Fuel storage tanks must be safe and well maintained. To eliminate the risk of fire within the storage area, ensure that all tanks and hoses are in a good working condition that does not allow any leaks. The area should be clear of any incompatible materials. A well-designed fuel storage facility should include:

• a specific fuel storage site that is bunded and located away from waterways, buildings, trees and power lines
• tank foundations are stabilised with concrete footings
• proper stands, ladders/platforms and footings that are maintained in good condition
• hoses and fittings free of leaks and in good working condition
• spill containment equipment to be available
• MSDS should be available for all fuel types
• emergency equipment to be appropriately located and signed accordingly, e.g. fire extinguishers and first aid kit and emergency contact list
• personal protection equipment (PPE) made available and signed accordingly
• oil to be stored in a separate area
• fuel storage to be locked at all times when not in use
• ensure fuel trailers are well maintained, hoses and fittings are in a good working order.

Engulfment and being suffocated by grain from collapsed field bins and silos has resulted in farm deaths and injury. Poorly designed grain storage areas see many workers and bystanders electrocuted, entangled in augers, hit and run-over by trucks and vehicles or falling and being trapped in silos.

Ensure you consider a safe work site when planning or upgrading a grain storage facility.

A well-designed grain complex should include:

• an area that allows for easy movement of trucks and augers for loading and unloading
• storage area that is away from buildings, trees and overhead power lines
• a well-drained, level surface
• silo structures in good condition (silo bases and supports not cracked, bent or rusted)
• storage areas to be secure when not in use
• silos are fitted with sight glasses, lids that can be opened/closed from the ground
• ladders and handrails in good condition
• make personal protective equipment available and assign accordingly.

The use of illicit drugs and alcohol within the workplace results in an increased risk of injury.

No machinery, vehicles or equipment are to be operated under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Some prescription drugs will impact on people’s work performance and particularly their ability to operate machinery. They should seek medical advice where necessary.

To ensure a safe workplace, no person should arrive at the workplace under the influence of drugs or alcohol or consume drugs or alcohol within the workplace.

About 20 children under 15 years are fatally injured on an Australian farm every year and many more are hospitalised or treated by General Practitioners across rural Australia. The major causes of child deaths and injuries on farms are dams, farm vehicles, machinery, motorcycles and horses. Age and development characteristics also place children at greater risk.

• Have a securely fenced house yard (safe play area) for young children to play, unless an adult is available to closely supervise them on farm.

Working long hours, and operating plant and machinery without regular breaks, increases fatigue. Fatigue also increases the probability of an accident occurring that may result in serious illness, injury or death.

Identify the risk and implement control strategies including shorter shifts, rotating staff, or introducing rest periods. If you are getting overtired at work, it may be because of general health issues or you are not getting enough good sleep or appropriate nutrition.

• Signs are to be in place where a person may be exposed to a risk to health and safety and also where personal protective equipment is required.
• There are standard safety signs and colour codes to be used in your workplace to warn of risks relating to your health and safety. All signs must be clearly visible, correctly located and replaced when damaged.
• Placards are used to advise where hazardous chemicals are stored and give information on how to handle Dangerous Goods in an emergency. Placards can be fixed labels or labels stencilled onto the container or plant.
• Ensure you purchase signs that comply with the Australian Standard 1319:1994.
• Chemical containers must be properly labelled to give you hazard information and let you know the health effects and safety precautions.

PPE must be provided and worn where:

• hazards are unable to be controlled by other measures (elimination, substitution, or in conjunction with other controls/measures)
• protection is required for chemical handling and application, according to instructions on product labels
• legislation/OHS regulation requires it.

When PPE is provided to workers, ensure that:

• the PPE is appropriate for the task
• the PPE is suitable for the person and fits well
• the PPE is readily available, clean and fully operational
• the PPE users are trained for the correct use of the PPE, including selection and maintenance.

Ensure the PPE is the correct equipment for the hazard to be controlled. Use labels and Material Safety Data Sheets as a guide when selecting appropriate PPE for handling and using chemicals. Check with your supplier or manufacturer that they meet the appropriate Australian Standards. PPE may include:

• head, eye and hearing protection
• respiratory protection
• clothing such as gloves, aprons and hats
• footwear.

Ensure the PPE is used in accordance to the manufacturer’s instructions and labels. PPE should fit properly and be comfortable for the wearer.