Working Alone on Farms: Essential Safety Checklist

Working alone on a farm can pose significant risks due to the isolated nature of agricultural operations. Whether you’re managing livestock, maintaining machinery, or tending crops, your safety should always be a top priority. This checklist provides practical measures you can implement immediately to mitigate risks and ensure you return home safely each day.

1. Inform Someone of Your Plans

Always notify someone of your intended tasks and expected return times. Informing a reliable person about your location, activities, and estimated return time ensures help will arrive promptly if you don’t check in as planned.

Action steps:

• Clearly outline your daily plans and expected return times.
• Establish a regular check-in schedule with family, friends, or coworkers.
• Provide detailed information about your location and tasks for the day.

2. Carry Reliable Communication Devices

Reliable communication can be lifesaving, especially in remote locations where mobile signals are weak or non-existent. A simple mobile phone may not suffice; consider advanced communication devices specifically designed for remote work.

Action items:

• Equip yourself with a two-way radio, satellite phone, or satellite communicator.
• Regularly test your devices to ensure they are charged and operational.
• Consider investing in a satellite-enabled personal locator beacon (PLB) or similar device.

3. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment is crucial for preventing injuries common to farm tasks. PPE minimises risks associated with machinery, livestock handling, and chemical exposure.

Essential PPE includes:

• Helmet or hard hat when operating machinery.
• Eye and ear protection.
• High-visibility clothing for increased visibility.
• Appropriate gloves, boots, and respirators when handling chemicals or machinery.

4. Regularly Inspect and Maintain Equipment

Machinery accidents are among the most common and dangerous incidents on farms. Regular inspections and maintenance of your equipment can significantly reduce these risks.

Routine checks should include:

• Inspecting tractors, quad bikes, and other vehicles before each use.
• Ensuring all safety guards and emergency stops are intact and functional.
• Keeping up-to-date maintenance logs and schedules.

4. Stay Alert to Weather Conditions

Changing weather conditions can rapidly transform manageable tasks into hazardous situations. Accurate, location-specific weather forecasts and alerts can prevent unexpected dangers from weather-related hazards.

Proactive weather safety measures:

• Regularly check detailed, property-specific forecasts.
• Plan tasks around expected weather conditions (e.g., heatwaves, storms, high winds).
• Ensure you have emergency plans for severe weather events.

5. Implement Emergency Response Plans

An effective emergency response plan is critical, especially when working alone. Being prepared for emergencies can drastically improve response times and outcomes.

Emergency planning should involve:

• Clearly defined procedures for various scenarios (injury, machinery accident, livestock emergencies).
• Training in basic first aid and emergency response.
• Availability of easily accessible first-aid kits, fire extinguishers, and emergency supplies.

6. Understand Your Property Risks

Every farm has unique risks related to terrain, infrastructure, livestock, and climate. Understanding these risks allows you to proactively address and mitigate them.

Risk assessment checklist:

• Identify potential hazards specific to your farm (e.g., remote areas, dangerous terrain, isolated infrastructure).
• Regularly review and update your property risk assessments.
• Train all farm personnel to recognise and respond appropriately to identified risks.

7. Take Regular Breaks and Stay Hydrated

Fatigue and dehydration significantly increase the risk of accidents and impaired judgment, especially during physically demanding tasks.

Recommended practices:

• Schedule regular rest breaks throughout the day.
• Keep hydrated with sufficient water intake.
• Avoid working excessive hours alone, particularly under harsh conditions.

7. Leverage Modern Safety Technologies

Innovative technology is transforming farm safety, offering solutions specifically designed to monitor the welfare of lone workers in remote locations.

Technology-driven safety measures:

• Utilise solutions that provide real-time monitoring and automatic alerts.
• Integrate wearable safety technologies capable of detecting falls, impacts, and inactivity.
• Invest in systems that automatically send distress signals if something goes wrong.

Conclusion

Farm safety when working alone is achievable with careful planning, regular communication, and leveraging the right tools and technology. By proactively addressing safety, farmers can significantly reduce risks, enhance productivity, and protect their most valuable asset: themselves.

For more information on how AirAgri’s innovative safety solutions can support your farm’s safety strategy, visit airagri.com.au.