SafeWork NSW will continue to support safer farming practices by conducting inspections at agricultural workplaces throughout regional NSW.
SafeWork NSW commissioner Janet Schorer said that farm work, such as the operation of heavy machinery, present a unique set of safety risks that need to be managed appropriately.
“Farm vehicles, including quad bikes, side-by-side vehicles, tractors, utility vehicles, and motorbikes, are valuable to the farming industry due to their efficiency and versatility,” Schorer said.
“However, when used improperly, these vehicles carry significant risks and remain a leading cause of fatalities and serious injuries on farms.”
In 2024, SafeWork NSW responded to 12 workplace fatalities in the agriculture industry. The body then conducted 25 compliance inspections across regional NSW, since becoming a standalone regulator on 1 July 2025.
76 items of plant were inspected, including such machinery as tractors, quad bikes, side-by-side vehicles, forklifts, and augers. SafeWork NSW inspectors issued 30 improvement notices to 11 of the 25 businesses visited, due to inadequate or missing machine guard, ineffective risk management plans, lack of regular plant maintenance and inspections, and an inadequate or lack of systems in place for managing psychosocial hazards.
“In recent months, SafeWork NSW has recorded an alarming number of serious incidents in the agricultural space, many of which were preventable,” Schorer said.
“SafeWork NSW’s proactive visits to farms play a pivotal role in reducing these numbers by preventing harm, strengthening compliance, and sharing practical safety tools.”
The inspections came after a roundtable convened by NSW minister for work health and safety Sophie Cotsis, NSW minister for agriculture Tara Moriarty, and member for orange Phil Donato. The focus was on preventing fatalities and serious injuries in the agriculture sector.
SafeWork NSW is encouraging farmers to engage with the NSW Small Business Rebate where eligible employers that utilise quad bikes, SSV’s, or tractors, could receive up to $1000 back for select drones or quad bike roll bars and helmets, and will host an event focus on how innovation and technology can improve farm safety and productivity.