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Tractors and Agricultural Plant Risk Assessment

Tractors and Agricultural Plant Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Tractors and Agricultural Plant Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Tractors and Agricultural Plant through a structured management-level Risk Assessment that supports planning, governance, and systems development across your farming operations. This document helps demonstrate Due Diligence, align with the WHS Act, and reduce your exposure to operational liability when managing tractors and agricultural plant on rural properties.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • WHS Governance, Duties and Consultation: Assessment of officer due diligence, PCBU obligations, consultation with workers and HSRs, and integration of tractor and plant risks into the overall WHS management system.
  • Tractor and Agricultural Plant Procurement and Design: Management of pre-purchase risk assessments, supplier documentation, guarding and rollover protection, ergonomic design, and suitability of plant for specific agricultural tasks.
  • Plant Registration, Documentation and Change Management: Protocols for plant registration, manuals and records, configuration changes, modifications, and decommissioning processes for tractors and associated agricultural plant.
  • Competency, Licensing and Training Systems: Assessment of licensing, verification of competency, induction programs, refresher training, and supervision arrangements for tractor and ride-on plant operators.
  • Safe Systems of Work for Tractor and Ride-On Operations: Development of operating procedures, speed and access controls, exclusion zones, passenger policies, and controls for working on slopes, near edges and around people, animals and infrastructure.
  • PTO, Slashing and Implement Management Systems: Management of power take-off (PTO) risks, guarding, connection and disconnection procedures, slasher and implement selection, and safe use of hydraulics and three-point linkage systems.
  • Inspection, Maintenance and Repair Systems: Scheduled inspection programs, pre-start checks, defect reporting, isolation and lock-out procedures, and controls for workshop and field-based maintenance of tractors and agricultural plant.
  • Farm Traffic, Journey and Task Planning: Assessment of traffic management on farms, interaction with light vehicles and pedestrians, route planning, signage, and scheduling to minimise congestion and high-risk movements.
  • Remote and Isolated Work, Communication and Emergency Response: Protocols for lone and remote tractor operations, communication systems, check-in procedures, rescue planning, and emergency response for rollovers and entrapment incidents.
  • Environmental, Terrain and Property Risk Management: Management of terrain hazards, slopes, dams, drains, soft ground, weather conditions, visibility, and interaction with overhead and underground services on rural properties.
  • Human Factors, Fatigue, Fitness for Work and PPE Management: Assessment of fatigue risks, fitness for work, impairment (including alcohol and drugs), and provision, use and maintenance of appropriate personal protective equipment.
  • Contractor, Labour Hire and Visitor Management: Systems for pre-qualification, information exchange, site induction, supervision, and monitoring of contractors, labour hire workers and visitors around tractors and agricultural plant.
  • Incident Reporting, Investigation and Continuous Improvement: Processes for reporting near misses and incidents, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and ongoing review of tractor and agricultural plant risk controls.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Farm Managers, Safety Managers and WHS Advisors responsible for planning, governing and monitoring tractor and agricultural plant operations across agricultural properties and rural enterprises.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. WHS Governance, Duties and Consultation
  • • Lack of clear assignment of PCBU, officer and worker WHS duties for tractor and agricultural plant operations
  • • Inadequate WHS policy framework specific to tractors, ride‑on mowers and PTO‑driven implements
  • • Poor consultation with workers, contractors and HSRs on tractor safety issues and changes to plant or procedures
  • • Failure to apply the hierarchy of control when making decisions about tractor and implement safety
  • • No documented process to review WHS compliance with WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulation for plant
  • • Inadequate consideration of other PCBUs on shared farming sites leading to overlapping duty gaps
2. Tractor and Agricultural Plant Procurement and Design
  • • Purchasing tractors or ride‑on mowers without rollover protective structures (ROPS) or falling object protective structures (FOPS) where required
  • • Acquiring plant without compliant guarding for PTO shafts, belts, chains and cutting components on slashing and soil‑levelling attachments
  • • Inadequate consideration of operator ergonomics, visibility, vibration and noise at the procurement stage
  • • Failure to ensure new and second‑hand plant meets relevant Australian Standards and manufacturer specifications
  • • Use of imported or modified agricultural plant without engineering verification or conformity assessment
  • • Lack of standardisation of controls, safety features and braking systems across the tractor fleet
3. Plant Registration, Documentation and Change Management
  • • Failure to register registrable plant or maintain appropriate records as required by WHS Regulation
  • • Missing or outdated operator manuals, maintenance logs and safety instructions for tractors and implements
  • • Uncontrolled changes to tractor set‑ups (e.g. adding front‑end loaders, ballast, cabs or ROPS removal) without risk assessment
  • • Inadequate document control for tractor safety procedures and emergency instructions
  • • No formal process to review and approve new PTO‑driven attachments or soil‑levelling equipment prior to use
4. Competency, Licensing and Training Systems
  • • Operators driving tractors or ride‑on mowers without adequate competency, assessment or supervision
  • • No structured training on specific hazards such as rollovers, PTO entanglement, slashing, and soil‑levelling on slopes
  • • Inadequate induction for seasonal, casual or contractor operators using agricultural plant
  • • Failure to provide refresher training and competency reassessment following incidents or near misses
  • • Limited training in traffic management, load security, towing and public road use of tractors where applicable
5. Safe Systems of Work for Tractor and Ride-On Operations
  • • Absence of documented safe work procedures for general driving, mowing, slashing and soil‑levelling activities
  • • Inconsistent application of speed limits, slope limitations and exclusion zones for tractors and ride‑on mowers
  • • Uncontrolled interaction between tractors and pedestrians or other mobile plant in work areas
  • • Inadequate systems to manage reversing, blind spots and work near edges, drainage channels and dams
  • • Lack of procedures for operating tractors in wet, boggy or unstable ground conditions
6. PTO, Slashing and Implement Management Systems
  • • Inadequate guarding and isolation systems for PTO shafts and rotating components on slashing and soil‑levelling implements
  • • Lack of structured controls for connecting, disconnecting and adjusting PTO‑driven equipment
  • • Poor management of thrown object risks during slashing and ride‑on mowing (rocks, debris, wire)
  • • Failure to manage entanglement hazards for clothing, hair and body parts near rotating shafts and belts
  • • Use of incompatible or poorly maintained implements leading to mechanical failure or loss of control
7. Inspection, Maintenance and Repair Systems
  • • Inadequate preventative maintenance leading to brake, steering, hydraulic or structural failures
  • • Absence of formal pre‑start inspection processes for tractors, ride‑on mowers and implements
  • • Repairs conducted by unqualified personnel or without appropriate isolation and support equipment
  • • Failure to address identified defects in a timely manner, resulting in continued operation of unsafe plant
  • • Poor record‑keeping for maintenance history, defect trends and component life cycles
8. Farm Traffic, Journey and Task Planning
  • • Unplanned or ad‑hoc tractor movements leading to conflicts with other vehicles, workers or livestock
  • • Inadequate planning for tractor travel on or across public roads, including visibility and escort arrangements
  • • Failure to consider weather, daylight, slope and ground conditions when scheduling slashing or soil‑levelling tasks
  • • Use of tractors for unsuitable tasks, loads or towing activities outside design limits
  • • No structured approach to scheduling work to reduce fatigue for operators undertaking long driving or mowing shifts
9. Remote and Isolated Work, Communication and Emergency Response
  • • Operators working alone with tractors in remote paddocks or on distant properties without reliable communication
  • • Delayed emergency response in the event of rollover, entanglement, medical episode or vehicle failure
  • • Lack of clear emergency procedures for extraction, rescue and first aid involving agricultural plant incidents
  • • No system to track location and expected return times of tractor operators
  • • Insufficient preparation for environmental hazards such as heat stress, wildlife, or bushfire while operating tractors
10. Environmental, Terrain and Property Risk Management
  • • Operating tractors and mowers on steep slopes, uneven ground, near waterways or unstable edges without adequate controls
  • • Unmanaged obstacles such as stumps, rocks, rabbit holes, washouts and fences in slashing or soil‑levelling areas
  • • Deteriorating property infrastructure (bridges, culverts, ramps) not suited to tractor weight and width
  • • Uncontrolled dust, noise and vibration affecting operators and nearby workers or neighbours
  • • Work during high fire danger conditions with tractors and slashers that can generate sparks or heat
11. Human Factors, Fatigue, Fitness for Work and PPE Management
  • • Operator fatigue leading to poor decision‑making, reduced reaction times and increased crash or rollover risk
  • • Use of tractors or ride‑on mowers by workers affected by alcohol, drugs or medical conditions
  • • Inconsistent provision and use of appropriate personal protective equipment for noise, sun and vibration exposure
  • • Insufficient consideration of physical capability or experience when allocating operators to demanding tractor tasks
  • • Ergonomic strain and musculoskeletal disorders from prolonged tractor or mower operation without breaks
12. Contractor, Labour Hire and Visitor Management
  • • Contractor or labour hire operators using site tractors or implements without verification of competency or induction
  • • Inconsistent safety standards between principal PCBU and contractors regarding tractor and implement use
  • • Visitors or non‑authorised personnel entering tractor operating areas without controls
  • • Unclear responsibilities for maintenance, inspection and repairs when plant is supplied by contractors
13. Incident Reporting, Investigation and Continuous Improvement
  • • Under‑reporting of near misses and minor incidents involving tractors and agricultural plant
  • • Failure to investigate tractor rollovers, entanglements or maintenance‑related failures to identify root causes
  • • Lack of feedback loops to update risk assessments, procedures and training after incidents
  • • Inadequate monitoring of leading indicators such as defect trends, near misses and operator feedback

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

Don't worry if a specific hazard isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom hazards at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the risk ratings and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • Model Code of Practice – Managing risks of plant in the workplace: Guidance on identifying and controlling risks associated with plant, including tractors and agricultural machinery.
  • Model Code of Practice – Managing risks in agriculture: Practical guidance for managing WHS risks in agricultural work environments.
  • Model Code of Practice – How to manage work health and safety risks: Framework for risk management, including hazard identification, risk assessment and control review.
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines.
  • AS 4024 Safety of Machinery (series): Requirements for machinery guarding, emergency stops and control systems relevant to tractors and agricultural plant.
  • AS 2153:2003 Tractors and machinery for agriculture and forestry – Technical means for ensuring safety: Safety principles for agricultural tractors and machinery.
  • AS 1636.1–3 Tractors – Roll-over protective structures: Design, testing and performance requirements for ROPS on tractors.
  • AS/NZS 3012:2019: Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites, referenced for temporary electrical supply and maintenance environments associated with plant.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

$79.5

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