Cultivating Safety: A Guide for Seed Sowing Season

As we near the seeding season for agricultural farms, it's a great time to get everything sorted out for a safe and successful kickoff to the season.

With cooler weather on the horizon in Australia, farmers are busy prepping for seed sowing season. It’s a bit of a shocker for those not familiar, but farming is one of the most hazardous jobs out there. While the goal is to put in more hours and boost productivity, it’s important that a successful seeding season doesn’t lead to a worn-out farmer.

The autumn season provides a comfortable temperature for seeds to germinate and grow. Avoiding the heat of summer, but hopefully producing an established seedling before the onset of winter frost. Generally, Autumn months mean sowing root vegetables, it's also about completing groundwork and planting of broadacre crops like barley, wheat, sorghum, oats, and canola.

According to Safe Work Australia, the main causes of fatalities for crop farmers came from being hit by moving objects (27%), Rollover of non-road vehicle (18%) or being trapped by moving machinery (18%). When you look at the size of the workforce, the crop growing sector had the highest fatality rate. The crop growing sub-industry of agriculture reached 38.4 deaths for every 100,000 workers. With that in mind there are a few things you can implement this seeding season to stay safe.

It might seem like there's not much time to get all the seeds sown, but prepping is essential for keeping your farm safe this season. Here’s a rundown of the key areas we focus on to spot and tackle any hazards or risks.

What causes fatigue during seeding season?

Fatigue is a major issue on farms throughout the year, and it often doesn't get the attention it deserves. It's not just about feeling sleepy; it’s that overwhelming sense of tiredness that can zap your energy. This can really mess with your daily tasks, making you less alert and slowing down your reactions. Plus, it can even impact how you communicate and your overall mood!

Although an organised roster can help, the amount and quality of sleep a person gets is more important. Research tell us the average person needs at least 6 hours of sleep a night, ideally 7 – 7.5hrs of uninterrupted, good quality sleep, depending on the individual.

So, how do we manage this risk during seeding since you can’t control how people sleep?

• Create realistic goals of what your team can complete in a day

• Ensure your team take adequate breaks

• Remember to eat and drink plenty of water

• Roster shift breaks – 14 hours or more is good, 10 or less is not ideal

• Consider how many days your workers get between rostered time off – if it’s more than 12 days before a break, the risk is higher than a break after 6 days.

Essential tractor safety tips for seed sowing

Farmers all over the world use machinery in their daily routines, but did you know that tractors are the go-to equipment? It’s pretty logical since they can do a bunch of different jobs, like moving feed, towing heavy stuff, and even providing power for other tools. However, they also come with their fair share of dangers, so it’s up to both the employer and the workers to keep things safe and minimise the risk of accidents.

So how can you control the risks associated with tractors and other farm machinery? Safe Work Procedures contribute to your risk management strategies. The role of your SWP is to help reduce risks to health and safety in the workplace. They are documents that detail how your worker can complete their job in a safe manner.

Your SWP should detail pre-operation safety checks. Does your tractor have suitable Roll Over Protection Structure (ROPS)? Have you checked the hydraulic hoses and fittings for leaks? Are entry and exit steps in good order with non-slip surfaces and grab rails.

Below are five tips for tractor safety and how you can reduce the risks on your farm:

• As an operator, know your tractor. Fully understand your machinery’s capabilities and hazards

• Complete the proper training.  A worker who doesn’t know how to safely operator a tractor can cause a potentially hazardous situation

• Take special care on rough terrain. Steep, rough, or slippery ground along with towing implements can increase the chance of the driver losing control.  

• Reconsider passengers and keep children away during operation. The only time you should consider allowing passengers is if there is a second seat with the appropriate protection

How to navigate shared roadways during seeding

Every year, especially during planting and harvest times, there are accidents on public roads involving cars and tractors all over the globe. Incidents usually happen because of speed and visibility issues, as tractors move way slower than regular vehicles.

Before taking your tractor on a public roadway you should ensure you have the correct license for your state, that your vehicle meets any regulatory requirements, you understand the road rules and the machinery is appropriately prepared.  

A passenger vehicle might come speeding up behind a tractor without any warning signs or flashing lights, which can lead to a nasty accident. Stay alert for those cars, and if it’s safe, try to move over and let them pass.

Keeping our roads safe is a shared responsibility:  

• Ensure you have the correct license and permit for your state

• Confirm tractor drivers have completed specialised training for the particular farm needs

• Have a reversing cameras on equipment and ensure audible reversing alarms are fitted and operational

• Watch out for ditches, embankments and depressions – crumbling and slippery banks can cause overturns

• Observe road rules, rights of way and clearances from overhead electric lines

How to prepare your space for effective seeding sowing

As we gear up for seeding and go about our daily farm tasks, we can't ignore the many risks faced. Whether it's dealing with chemicals, navigating confined spaces, or operating machinery. To keep everyone safe, we need to be proactive in identifying key hazards before they lead to any incidents.

A safety inspection is a key part of your hazard identification toolkit. It helps you spot and report potential risks in your workplace, making it easier to eliminate or steer clear of them. These inspections give you and your team a clearer picture of the tasks at hand, allowing you to tackle any issues that come up. In the end, all this effort boosts your health and safety performance while cutting down on asset damage and lost income. Safety inspections can help you focus on machinery, equipment, structures, power tools, personnel safety, and electrical safety.

Things to consider after your safety inspection:

• How will your corrective actions be tracked, managed, and completed?

• Who will be responsible for ensuring findings are actioned in a timely manner?

• How will you document your communication and consultation?

Why is farm safety important during seed sowing?

Don't forget that farm safety isn't just a one-time thing that wraps up when seeding season is done. By making little adjustments that turn into daily habits, your workers can boost productivity, cut down on mistakes, and create a solid plan for making smarter choices, all while keeping everyone safe and sound.

Disclaimer: Content on this website may be of relevance to users outside of Australia, but content links and examples are specific to Australia. Please check with your local authority for your country and industry requirements.