Product Overview

This Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) is developed specifically for Crop Harvesting Farming Machinery and Tractor Operations, with the primary goal of identifying hazards and implementing effective controls to protect workers and meet site requirements. It is a comprehensive, ready-to-use document that covers multiple aspects of machinery operation, crop harvesting, and tractor-based farm work to support strong WHS compliance and risk management on Australian farms.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe operation of tractors and self-propelled machinery during crop harvesting activities
• Planning and sequencing of crop rotation tasks to minimise soil damage and machinery-related risks
• Grain harvesting using headers and harvesters, including managing dust, noise, and moving parts
• Loading and unloading hay bales with tractors, loaders, and attachments to prevent crush and rollover incidents
• Manure spreading operations, including safe handling, loading, and application to reduce exposure and environmental risks
• Use of tractor-mounted mulchers, including guarding of rotating components and managing thrown object hazards
• Olive harvesting with shaker equipment, including vibration, noise, and entanglement control measures
• Operating a combine harvester, including pre-start checks, in-field operation, blockages, and maintenance tasks
• Operating hay balers (including round balers) with controls for entanglement, crush points, and ejection zones
• Operating tillage equipment such as discs and cultivators, including safe hitching, transport, and field operation
• Use of orchard cutter bars and cutting attachments, including guarding, exclusion zones, and lockout procedures
• Ploughing fields and operating ploughs, with controls for rollover, ground instability, and fatigue management
• Seed sowing using seeders and planters, including calibration, refuelling, and safe access for maintenance
• Management of traffic and mobile plant interaction between tractors, harvesters, trucks, and pedestrians
• Emergency response procedures for machinery fires, entanglement incidents, spills, and medical emergencies in the field

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for broadacre and mixed farming operations, agricultural contractors, orchard and olive grove operators, grain producers, and site supervisors responsible for managing tractor and crop harvesting machinery on Australian farms.

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 safe use, maintenance, and guarding of tractors, harvesters, and other farm machinery
• Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice: Requirements for working on and around machinery platforms, ladders, and elevated access points
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Controls for high-noise farm machinery such as harvesters, balers, and tractors
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice: Risk management for handling hay bales, seed bags, tools, and components
• Safe Work Australia – Guide to Managing Risks in Farming: Industry-specific guidance for agricultural work and mobile plant operations
• AS 4024 Safety of Machinery (series): Principles for machinery guarding, emergency stops, and safe access where applicable