Product Overview

Summary: This Seed Drill Calibration Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step method for safely and accurately calibrating seed drills in Australian farming operations. It helps operators achieve target seeding rates, protect workers around moving machinery, and minimise environmental and financial losses from over- or under-sowing.

Accurate seed drill calibration is critical to achieving target plant populations, optimising input costs, and complying with modern agronomic and environmental expectations. Done poorly, calibration can lead to patchy establishment, wasted seed, reduced yields, and unnecessary rework. This Seed Drill Calibration Safe Operating Procedure sets out a repeatable, documented method for preparing, testing, adjusting, and verifying seeding rates across different seed types, paddock conditions, and drill configurations used in Australian broadacre and mixed farming systems.

At the same time, calibration is often performed in high-risk conditions: around raised equipment, rotating components, hydraulic systems, and in dusty or low-light environments. This SOP embeds WHS best practice into each stage of the process, from isolating and supporting equipment, to managing pinch points and manual handling, to working safely around moving vehicles and public roads. By implementing this procedure, businesses can standardise how seed drills are calibrated across teams, reduce the likelihood of injury or equipment damage, and maintain a defensible record of both safety and agronomic due diligence.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent and accurate seeding rates across all paddocks and operators.
• Reduce the risk of injuries associated with working around moving parts, hydraulics, and elevated machinery.
• Optimise seed usage to minimise input costs and avoid yield loss from under- or over-sowing.
• Standardise training and competency for seed drill calibration across seasonal and permanent staff.
• Demonstrate due diligence with documented, WHS-aligned calibration practices for audits and compliance checks.

Who is this for?

• Farm Managers
• Cropping Managers
• Agricultural Machinery Operators
• Farm Hands and Station Hands
• Agronomists and Crop Consultants
• WHS Advisors in Agriculture
• Agricultural Contractors
• Workshop and Maintenance Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Entanglement or crush injuries from rotating components, drive chains, and ground wheels
• Crush injuries from unsupported or poorly supported machinery during inspection and adjustment
• Hydraulic system failures and uncontrolled movement of raised equipment
• Slips, trips and falls around uneven ground, mud, and loose seed or tools
• Manual handling strains from lifting seed bags, plates, and components
• Dust inhalation and respiratory irritation when handling seed and cleaning equipment
• Noise exposure from running tractors and machinery during calibration checks
• Vehicle and mobile plant interaction risks in workshops, sheds, and paddock edges
• Contact with treated seed and associated chemical exposure risks

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Terminology (Seed Drill, Rate, Row Spacing, etc.)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Required Competencies
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Farm Policies
• 5.0 Required Tools, Equipment and Documentation
• 6.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 7.0 Pre-Calibration Safety Checks and Plant Isolation
• 8.0 Site Preparation and Work Area Setup
• 9.0 Seed Selection, Handling and Treated Seed Precautions
• 10.0 Calibration Method – Ground-Driven Seed Drills
• 11.0 Calibration Method – Air Seeders and Metering Systems
• 12.0 Calculating Seeding Rates and Adjusting Settings
• 13.0 Verification Runs, Fine-Tuning and Recording Results
• 14.0 Safe Use of Hydraulics, Jacks and Supports During Calibration
• 15.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Control Measures
• 16.0 Manual Handling Controls for Seed and Components
• 17.0 Environmental Considerations (Spills, Dust, Waste Seed)
• 18.0 Post-Calibration Cleaning, Maintenance and Storage
• 19.0 Training, Induction and Competency Assessment
• 20.0 Recordkeeping, Calibration Logs and Audit Trail
• 21.0 Incident Reporting, Non-Conformance and Continuous Improvement
• 22.0 Review and Revision of this Procedure

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and state/territory equivalents
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice
• AS/NZS 4024.1201: Safety of machinery – General principles for design
• AS 2550 series: Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use (for guidance on lifting and supporting equipment)
• AS/NZS 1319: Safety signs for the occupational environment