Product Overview

This Tractors and Agricultural Plant Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is designed to identify hazards and implement effective controls to ensure safe operation, maintenance, and use of agricultural plant on Australian worksites. It is a comprehensive document covering multiple aspects of tractor operation, ride-on mowers, PTO-driven equipment and associated agricultural activities to support WHS compliance and safe management of High Risk Construction Work in rural and semi-rural environments.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe driving of tractors in paddocks, around sheds, on access tracks and near other plant or pedestrians
• Routine general tractor maintenance including pre-start checks, fluid levels, tyres, guards and safety systems
• Levelling and grading soil with tractors, including the use of blades, rippers and other ground-engaging implements
• Operation of tractors and ride-on mowers for grass cutting, grounds maintenance and property management
• Tractor slashing operations, including managing flying object risks, fire hazards and interaction with bystanders
• Safe use of PTO-driven implements such as slashers, post-hole diggers, augers, pumps and spreaders
• Selection, fitting and secure attachment of three-point linkage and towed implements
• Management of rollover risks, including use of ROPS, seatbelts, operating on slopes and avoiding unstable ground
• Control of noise, dust, vibration and manual handling risks associated with tractor and plant operation
• Traffic management around sheds, loading areas and shared farm roadways, including segregation of people and plant
• Refuelling, isolation, lock-out and de-energising procedures for tractors and agricultural plant
• Emergency procedures for plant failure, fire, entanglement, rollover and medical emergencies in remote locations

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for farmers, agricultural contractors, grounds maintenance crews, civil and landscaping teams, and site supervisors responsible for operating or managing tractors and agricultural plant.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice: Guidance on controlling risks associated with plant, including tractors and agricultural machinery
• Managing Risks in Forestry Operations Code of Practice: Applicable to agricultural and rural operations where tractors and plant are used in timbered or forestry-style environments
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Relevant to mounting, dismounting and working on tractors and elevated plant
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: For controlling noise exposure from tractors, ride-on mowers and powered implements
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice: For manual handling associated with attaching implements, maintenance and handling materials
• AS 1636 Tractors – Roll-over protective structures (ROPS): Requirements for ROPS on agricultural tractors
• AS 2153 Tractors and machinery for agriculture and forestry – Technical means for ensuring safety: Safety principles for tractors and agricultural machinery