Understanding the barriers when literacy, tech, and trust collide

By a Farm Safety Manager, for Farm Safety Managers

Let’s be honest: no matter how many safety policies we print, procedures we design, or apps we roll out, making safety stick on farms remains one of our biggest hurdles.

And it’s not because we don’t care. Farmers are among the most risk-aware workers in the world—weather, machinery, livestock, isolation. The stakes are high every single day.

But the traditional safety systems we’re meant to implement often fail to land. Why?

Let’s unpack it.

The Hidden Impact of Dyslexia and Learning Differences

Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects reading and spelling accuracy and fluency. It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental differences in Australia, and it doesn’t go away with age. Many adults working in agriculture—hands-on, capable, and experienced—struggle quietly with reading, remembering, and processing written material, especially in high-stress or unfamiliar environments.

Farm safety procedures are often text-heavy, written in small fonts, buried in PDFs, or stored behind password-protected portals and apps. For someone with dyslexia, this becomes a wall, not a gateway.

And it’s not just dyslexia. Low digital literacy, ageing workforce, and physical fatigue after 12-hour days all play a part. Something as simple as “Download the app and log in to report a hazard” becomes a dead-end.

We’re designing systems of record when what we need are systems of engagement.

Why Traditional Farm Safety Fails to Stick

1. Too Hard to Access – Passwords forgotten, apps not downloaded, poor connectivity. The tech wall is real.

2. Too Much Reading – Long procedures, compliance documents, or text-heavy forms don’t work for everyone.

3. Too One-Way – Top-down safety doesn’t inspire buy-in. People don’t feel involved, so they switch off.

4. Too Isolated – Workers move between properties. Systems don’t. Profiles don’t follow the person.

As a safety manager, I’ve seen firsthand how farmers want to be safe. They just need a system that meets them where they are.

Welcome to the New Age: AirAgri as a System of Engagement

AirAgri isn’t just a safety app. It’s a movement. A new model. A 360-degree solution that looks at real people, real farms, and real limitations—and then builds around them.

Instead of a locked-down, compliance-heavy platform, AirAgri is inspired by the tools people already know how to use—social media. One profile can follow a worker across multiple properties. Data is centralised, but access is personal and flexible.

Information isn’t just stored—it’s activated. From weather alerts to check-ins, to hazard reports, everything is designed for ease, action, and accessibility.

Say It, Don’t Type It: Introducing AirAgri Voice

And here’s the breakthrough: with AirAgri’s Voice Feature, a worker doesn’t need to remember a password or navigate a screen. They just pick up any phone, dial a number, and speak.

• Check-in from a paddock.

• Report a hazard mid-task.

• Log an incident without stopping the day.

This is safety built around humans—not policies.

The Future of Ground-Up Safety is Here

For years we’ve asked: How do we make safety live and breathe on farms?

AirAgri is the answer.

It’s not about enforcing procedures from the top. It’s about empowering every person on every property to contribute. Whether you’re dyslexic, digitally hesitant, or just exhausted after a long day—you’re part of the safety culture.

Because when safety becomes part of the day, not a barrier to it—that’s when it finally sticks.