Quick answer: Agricultural businesses in Australia are workplaces under WHS legislation, and farm operators are PCBUs with a primary duty of care. Key WHS priorities include safe work procedures for machinery, tractors, quad bikes, chemicals, and livestock handling; a chemical register and SDS file; a plant and equipment register; working alone procedures; and an emergency plan suited to remote or rural conditions. This page pulls together the essential resources, guides, and SWMS templates that agriculture businesses need.
Last reviewed: 12 June 2026
Farming and agricultural operations are among the most hazardous working environments in Australia. Year after year, agriculture records some of the highest rates of workplace fatalities and serious injuries of any industry — driven by machinery rollovers, quad bike incidents, chemical exposures, and livestock-related accidents. Despite this, WHS compliance is often underdeveloped on farms compared to industries like construction.
A farm is a workplace. The WHS Act applies to farming operations in the same way it applies to any other business, and farm operators have the same duties as any other PCBU. Whether you run a broadacre cropping operation, a mixed farming enterprise, a horticulture business, or a livestock property, your WHS obligations are real and enforceable.
This page is a practical resource hub for agriculture businesses. It links to guides, checklists, SWMS templates, and WHS document resources relevant to farming and agricultural operations in Australia. Use it as a starting point to understand your obligations and find the tools you need.
Note: WHS laws in Australia are based on the model Work Health and Safety Act 2011, but each state and territory has its own legislation and regulator. Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. Always check the requirements that apply in your jurisdiction.
WHS obligations for agriculture businesses
Duty as a PCBU
Any person carrying on a farming business — sole trader, family partnership, trust, or company — is a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) under Australian WHS legislation. As a PCBU, an agricultural operator must ensure the health and safety of:
- their own workers, including permanent employees, seasonal and casual workers, and backpackers on working visas
- contractors and labour hire workers on the property
- other people on or near the workplace, including visitors, delivery drivers, and members of the public
The PCBU duty is to eliminate risks so far as is reasonably practicable, or if that is not possible, to minimise them so far as is reasonably practicable. On a farm, this means actively identifying hazards and implementing controls — not waiting for an incident to occur.
Duty to consult workers
PCBUs in agriculture must consult with workers on WHS matters that affect them. This includes identifying hazards, making decisions about controls, and reviewing procedures after incidents. Consultation does not have to be formal, but it must be genuine. Seasonal and casual workers must be included.
Managing contractors on the property
When contractors are engaged to work on a farm — fencing, crop spraying, shearing, harvesting contractors, machinery maintenance — the farm operator does not hand off WHS responsibility. Multiple duty holders can share responsibility for the same matter under the WHS Act. Farm operators should:
- Communicate known site hazards to contractors before work begins
- Ensure contractors have appropriate safe work procedures for their activities
- Coordinate WHS where contractor and farm worker activities overlap
- Keep a record of contractors engaged and their WHS documents
Key WHS hazards in agriculture
Agriculture presents a distinctive profile of serious hazards that drive the industry's high rate of injuries and fatalities. The following are the priority areas for any farm WHS management system.
Tractors and machinery — rollover and entanglement
Tractors remain the single biggest cause of farm fatalities in Australia. The primary risks are rollover and run-over incidents. Key controls include:
- Rollover protection structures (ROPS): All tractors used on Australian farms must be fitted with ROPS and a seatbelt. Operating a tractor without ROPS is both a WHS breach and a significant life safety risk.
- Operator training and competency: Workers operating tractors and agricultural machinery must be trained and assessed as competent before operating unsupervised.
- Pre-start inspections: Daily pre-start checks should be documented using a plant and equipment register.
- Guarding: All power take-off (PTO) shafts and moving parts must be guarded.
See the Agricultural Machinery SWMS and Farming Machinery SWMS for documented safe work procedures for these activities.
Quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles
Quad bikes are disproportionately represented in Australian farm fatalities. Since 2011, quad bikes have been Australia's most dangerous farm vehicle per hours of use. Key controls include:
- Operator protection devices (OPDs): Quad bikes used for work must be fitted with an approved operator protection device from 2021 under Australian Consumer Law requirements.
- Appropriate vehicle selection: Quad bikes are not suitable for all terrain and tasks. Side-by-side vehicles with roll cages may be more appropriate in some situations.
- No passengers: Carrying passengers on a quad bike designed for a single operator is a primary risk factor.
- Helmet use: Helmets must be worn when operating quad bikes on farms.
- Training: Workers must be trained and assessed before operating quad bikes.
See the Quad Bike Safety SWMS for a documented safe work procedure.
Hazardous chemicals and pesticides
Agriculture is one of the heaviest users of hazardous chemicals in any industry — herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, fertilisers, fumigants, and veterinary chemicals. Key obligations include:
- Chemical register: All hazardous chemicals on the property must be listed in a chemical register.
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS): A current SDS must be available at the workplace for every hazardous chemical used or stored.
- PPE: Appropriate personal protective equipment must be provided and used when handling chemicals, in accordance with the SDS.
- Storage: Chemicals must be stored in accordance with the SDS and applicable Dangerous Goods legislation.
- Agricultural spraying: Spray operations must address operator exposure, buffer zones, re-entry intervals, and disposal of containers.
See the Agricultural Spraying SWMS and Chemicals Handling and Use SWMS, and the Hazardous Chemicals SWMS Guide for more detail.
Livestock handling
Working with livestock — cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, and other animals — carries the risk of being struck, kicked, crushed, or trampled. Key controls include:
- Appropriate facilities: Yards, races, and handling facilities must be designed to allow workers to move livestock safely, with escape routes and low-stress handling techniques.
- Worker training: Workers must be trained in safe livestock handling techniques, including working with unpredictable or unfamiliar animals.
- Zoonotic diseases: Workers handling livestock must be aware of the risk of diseases transmissible from animals to humans (Q fever, leptospirosis) and appropriate hygiene controls.
- Shearing and animal husbandry: Shearing operations involve additional hazards from powered equipment, awkward postures, and manual handling.
See the Livestock Handling, Shearing and Animal Husbandry SWMS for a documented safe work procedure.
Working alone and in remote locations
Farm workers frequently work alone, in remote locations, with limited mobile phone coverage and significant distances from emergency services. Working alone amplifies every other hazard — an injury that would be minor with a colleague present can become fatal when help cannot arrive in time. Key controls include:
- Lone worker check-in procedures: Workers operating alone in remote areas must have a documented check-in schedule, with a nominated contact who will initiate an emergency response if they fail to check in.
- Communication equipment: Satellite communicators, UHF radios, or emergency personal locator beacons (PLBs) must be available and carried when mobile coverage is absent.
- Risk assessment: Tasks performed alone must be assessed for the additional risks that working alone creates. Some high-hazard tasks should not be performed alone.
See the Working Alone SWMS Guide for more detail on managing the risks of lone work in agriculture.
Silos and confined spaces
Grain storage silos, hoppers, tanks, and pits are confined spaces that present a risk of engulfment, toxic atmosphere, and oxygen deficiency. Entry into a silo or confined space without appropriate controls has resulted in multiple fatalities on Australian farms. Key controls include:
- Confined space permit system: Entry into any confined space must only occur under a confined space entry permit, with atmospheric testing, ventilation, and standby rescue provisions in place.
- No entry during or after grain flow: Entering a silo during grain auger operation or when grain is moving is immediately life-threatening.
- Lockout/tagout: Mechanical and electrical isolation of augers and conveyors before any silo entry is non-negotiable.
Chainsaws and tree work
Chainsaw use — for clearing vegetation, fencing, firewood, and storm damage — is a significant source of serious injuries on farms. See the Chainsaw SWMS for a documented safe work procedure covering safe chainsaw operation.
Common SWMS for agriculture businesses
The table below lists the SWMS most commonly needed on farming and agricultural operations.
| SWMS | When needed |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Machinery SWMS | Operation and maintenance of agricultural machinery including headers, seeders, and sprayers |
| Farming Machinery SWMS | General farming machinery tasks including tractors and broad plant operation |
| Agricultural Spraying SWMS | Ground and aerial application of herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides |
| Tractors SWMS | Operation of tractors across all farming applications |
| Chemicals Handling and Use SWMS | Mixing, handling, applying, and disposing of hazardous chemicals on the property |
| Quad Bike Safety SWMS | Operation of quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles on farm properties |
| Livestock Handling, Shearing and Animal Husbandry SWMS | Mustering, yarding, drenching, shearing, pregnancy testing, and other livestock work |
| Chainsaw SWMS | Chainsaw use for vegetation clearing, fencing, and general farm tasks |
WHS documents an agriculture business needs
Beyond safe work procedures, an agriculture business needs a broader set of WHS documents to support a compliant and well-managed operation. The table below outlines the core documents.
| Document | Purpose | When required |
|---|---|---|
| WHS Policy | Demonstrates leadership commitment to health and safety; sets out responsibilities | Any business with workers; expected by farm insurers and industry bodies |
| Safe Work Procedures / SWMS | Documents hazards and controls for specific tasks | For any hazardous task; required by regulators and best practice for farm operations |
| Hazard / Risk Register | Documents identified hazards, risk ratings, and controls | Maintained and updated as new hazards are identified or work changes |
| Chemical Register | Lists all hazardous chemicals on the property | Required for any business storing or using hazardous chemicals |
| Safety Data Sheets (SDS) File | Current SDS for each hazardous chemical | Must be accessible at the point of use for all hazardous chemicals |
| Plant and Equipment Register | Tracks plant, inspection status, maintenance records, and operator competencies | Maintained for all plant and equipment on the property |
| Training and Competency Register | Records qualifications, licences, and training for each worker | Ongoing; includes chemical handling certificates, machinery competencies |
| Incident Register | Records incidents, near misses, dangerous occurrences, and work-related injuries | Ongoing; notifiable incidents must be reported to the regulator |
| Working Alone / Check-in Procedure | Documents check-in schedule and emergency contacts for lone workers | Required wherever workers operate alone or in areas with limited communication |
| Confined Space Entry Permit | Controls entry into silos, tanks, hoppers, and other confined spaces | Before any confined space entry; non-negotiable |
| Emergency Plan | Sets out emergency response procedures for the property | Required for all workplaces; must account for remote location and distances from emergency services |
| Induction Records | Evidence that workers have received site-specific safety information | Before any worker commences; includes seasonal and casual workers |
For a practical guide to the WHS documents a small farming business needs, see WHS Documents for Small Business.
Farm WHS readiness checklist
The following checklist covers the WHS fundamentals that should be in place on most farm operations.
Foundation documents:
- WHS policy in place and communicated to all workers
- Hazard and risk register prepared covering all significant farm hazards
- Chemical register current; SDS file complete and accessible
- Plant and equipment register current; all ROPS and guarding in place
- Emergency plan documented; nearest hospital and emergency contacts known
- Working alone / check-in procedure documented and understood by all workers
Safe work procedures:
- SWMS or safe work procedures in place for all high-hazard tasks
- Tractor and machinery operation procedures documented
- Quad bike operation procedures documented
- Chemical mixing, handling, and application procedures documented
- Livestock handling procedures documented for the species on the property
- Confined space entry permit system in place (if silos or tanks on the property)
People and records:
- All workers (including seasonal and casual) inducted before starting work
- Training and competency register current; chemical handling certificates current
- Incident register maintained; near misses recorded as well as injuries
- Consultation process in place; workers involved in safety decisions
- Contractor register maintained; contractors briefed on site hazards before commencing
Useful guides for agriculture businesses
The following guides cover the WHS topics most relevant to farming and agricultural operations.
- What Is a SWMS? — Plain-language explanation of SWMS and when they are required
- Agriculture SWMS Guide — How SWMS apply to farming and agricultural operations
- WHS Documents for Small Business — Practical guide to the WHS documents a small farming business needs
- Working Alone SWMS Guide — Managing the risks of working alone and in remote locations
- Hazardous Chemicals SWMS Guide — SWMS and document requirements for chemical handling on farms
SWMS templates for agriculture businesses
Blue Safe Online provides SWMS templates for the agricultural activities most commonly needed on Australian farms. Templates are professionally prepared, editable, and ready to customise to your specific property and work methods.
Browse the full range of agriculture SWMS at Blue Safe Online.
Frequently asked questions
Do farms need SWMS in Australia?
SWMS are required under the model WHS Regulations for high risk construction work. Most farming activities are not classified as construction work, so a formal SWMS is not a regulatory requirement for general farm tasks in the same way it is on a construction site. However, agricultural businesses as PCBUs are still required to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement controls — and documenting this process in a SWMS or equivalent safe work procedure is a widely accepted way to meet that duty. For any activities on a farm that do involve construction work (for example, erecting structures), the HRCW rules apply in the same way as on a building site. Many agricultural businesses and their insurers also require SWMS as part of their safety management system regardless of the technical regulatory trigger.
Is a farmer a PCBU?
Yes. Any person or business that carries on farming as a business — whether as a sole trader, partnership, family trust, or company — is a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) under Australian WHS legislation. As a PCBU, a farmer has a primary duty of care to ensure the health and safety of workers (including employees, seasonal workers, and contractors), and other people who may be affected by the farming operation, so far as is reasonably practicable. This duty applies even if the farmer has no employees and works alone or only with family members in some jurisdictions.
What are the biggest WHS hazards on a farm?
The most serious and frequently occurring hazards in Australian agriculture include machinery and tractor rollovers (ROPS), quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles, hazardous chemicals and pesticides, livestock handling, working alone or in remote locations without communication, confined spaces such as silos and grain storage, working at height, and noise from plant and equipment. Agriculture consistently records one of the highest rates of workplace fatalities and serious injuries of any industry in Australia. Identifying and controlling these hazards is the primary focus of a farm WHS management system.
What WHS documents does an agriculture business need?
An agriculture business typically needs a WHS policy, safe work procedures or SWMS for hazardous tasks (machinery operation, chemical handling, livestock work, working alone), a hazard and risk register, a chemical register and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous substances on site, an incident register, a plant and equipment register (including inspection and maintenance records), a training and competency register, an emergency plan, and induction records for all workers including seasonal and casual staff. The specific requirements depend on the size of the business, the number of workers engaged, and the state or territory in which you operate.
Get your WHS documents sorted
Blue Safe Online provides SWMS templates and WHS management systems for Australian agriculture businesses. Whether you are setting up a farm safety system for the first time, updating outdated documents ahead of an audit or insurance renewal, or looking for SWMS for a specific agricultural activity, Blue Safe Online gives you access to professionally prepared, ready-to-customise WHS documents for the agricultural industry.
Browse SWMS and WHS documents for agriculture businesses on Blue Safe Online
This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. WHS requirements may vary by state or territory, the nature of the farming operation, the number and type of workers engaged, and other factors. Consult the relevant WHS regulator or a qualified WHS professional for advice specific to your circumstances.