Farm safety - Common hazards

Every farm is different, but hazards common to most farms include:

• Animals – injuries inflicted by animals can include bites, kicks, crushing, ramming, trampling and transmissible diseases.
• Chemicals – pesticides and herbicides can cause injuries such as burns, respiratory illness or poisoning.
• Confined spaces – silos, water tanks and manure pits may contain unsafe atmospheres, which can cause poisoning or suffocation.
• Electricity – dangers include faulty switches, cords, machinery or overhead power lines.
• Heights – falls from ladders, rooftops, silos and windmills are a major cause of injury.
• Machinery – hazards include tractors without roll-over protection (ROP), chainsaws, augers and other machinery with unguarded moving parts.
• Noise pollution – noise from livestock, machinery and guns can affect your health.
• Vehicles – crashes or falls from motorbikes, all terrain vehicles (ATVs or quad bikes), tractors, utes and horses can result in injuries.
• Water – drowning can occur in dams, lakes, ponds, rivers, channels and creeks. Young children are particularly at risk.
• Weather – hazards include sunburn, heat stroke, dehydration and hypothermia