Govt to rethink farm health and safety rules with practical reforms
Farmers are welcoming new Government proposals to make farm health and safety rules more practical and grounded in real-world farming.
Dairy Women's Network is seeking to shift members’ ‘can do’ attitude to one of ‘can do safely’, by means of free workshops called ‘Step up to Safety’, from late October.
These will be run by DWN members experienced in health and safety and supported by Worksafe NZ and Hazardco. “Participants will take away a 90-day health and safety action plan or actions identified to progress to next steps,” said project manager and farmer wellness specialist Lynda Clark.
Some farmers may have got complacent about safety, thinking they are off the hook following the Government’s recent health and safety legislation announcements, Clark says. But it’s not so.
“While sheep, beef, dairy and deer farming are deemed ‘low-risk’ industries, every industry’s workforce should go home safe at the end of each working day.
“These workshops will take health and safety out of the office and onto the farm and discuss what effective health and safety onfarm looks like.”
Attendees will gain better understanding of the current health and safety legislation and how it affects them, and will understand where their businesses are compliant and where they need more action.
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