Harvest safety - Ingham & Co

Key messages

• Fatigue is a recognised WHS hazard; 8-hour minimum rest breaks are required
• Record-keeping is critical — even small maintenance jobs should be logged
• Best practice fire safety includes two extinguishers per header, a fire unit in the paddock and a documented fire plan
• Compliance and safety are about protecting people, not just ticking boxes

Fatigue management: chasing the sun without burning out

Most farming businesses push the boundaries when it comes to working long hours during harvest. For many, this is the money-making time of year — the six to eight months of hard work all comes down to timing and balancing crop quality with market prices.

With that pressure, everything else on the farm tends to take a back seat. But fatigue is a real risk. Long hours, consecutive days and little rest can mean staff and owners don’t meet their fatigue management obligations.

Under WHS law, fatigue is recognised as a psychosocial hazard — a risk to health and safety that employers and managers have a duty of care to manage. Safe Work Australia highlights that fatigue reduces alertness and slows reaction time, significantly increasing the risk of incidents with heavy machinery.

Some tools to manage this include:

• Minimum 8 hours’ break between shifts — this is the regulator’s expectation.
• Wellbeing support — keep staff well-hydrated, nourished and supported with regular check-ins on fatigue and sleeping patterns
• Scheduled rest days — allow at least one day each week to reset: catch up on laundry, shopping, family time or just proper sleep
• Documented policy — make sure staff know there is a rotation in place and that if anyone (including the owner/manager) feels fatigued, they can take time out without penalty

Harvest is the busiest time of year, but that doesn’t mean staff wellbeing should be ignored in the chase for $$$.

Machinery maintenance: records that keep you covered

Harvest is the busiest time of year, and also when the bulk of breakdowns and accidents occur, simply due to the pressure on machinery, equipment and people.

That’s why record-keeping matters.

Regulators want confidence that breakdowns or accidents didn’t happen due to poor maintenance and negligence.

Simple steps include: 

• Keeping a record in your diary, phone, or using an app like Safe Ag Systems
• Logging every job — from greasing and basic repairs through to dealer servicing
• Having external technicians on farm when needed

Sometimes breakdowns happen outside your control. But if you can prove maintenance was done, regulators will treat it as an unavoidable event — not negligence.

Emergency preparedness: fighting fire with more than a garden hose

A common question is: How many fire extinguishers do I need on my machinery?

There are no specific regulations on this, but best practice is to do what’s reasonably practicable. For most farmers that includes:

• Having a fire unit in the paddock — a dedicated firefighting truck, trailer tank, or ute-mounted pod
• Some manufacturers also fit firefighting units to chaser bins for an extra line of defence
• According to the CFA, a header should carry at least two 9kg extinguishers — one near the cab or steps, and one at the rear (engine bay or stairwell)
• Keeping machinery clean and well-maintained to reduce trash build-up that can fuel a fire

It’s also critical to have a farm fire plan — a simple document that all staff, contractors, visitors and family members know and can follow.

This should cover:

• What to do in the event of a fire
• Where to go and how to check in
• Emergency contacts
• Shutting off power, turning on sprinkler systems or hoses
• Securing pets and stock
• Knowing when to stay and when to evacuate

These plans are like insurance — you hope you never need them, but in a real emergency they save lives and property. Train all staff, including casuals, so everyone knows their role.

Check out these current opportunities:

Blaze Aid: Grant for firefighting equipment

NSW Government: farm firefighting vehicle registration 

Final word

Fatigue, machinery breakdowns and fire aren’t just seasonal headaches — they’re serious risks with compliance obligations attached. The good news is that with a few proactive steps, risks can be reduced, everyone can be kept safe, and harvest can keep moving.

Ingham & Co works alongside farming families and ag businesses to make safety and compliance practical and achievable — taking the pressure out of meeting obligations and protecting people during the busiest time of year.

If you are a Riverine Plains member and are interested in having a free on farm safety review and risk assessment please contact our Member Engagement Manager, Lynn.