Farming is physical work. Yep, we all know that. Whether you’re handling livestock, loading bags of supplies in to the ute, attaching an implement to your tractor, or spending a few hours on the chainsaw getting rid of that tree, you’re placing your body under a fair bit of physical strain on a regular basis.
Short video on Safe Manual Handling - watch now
So how do you make sure you’re looking after your body and not hurting yourself? How do you try and safeguard your workers from one of the most common hazards on a farm? I’m sure you’ve seen or heard the old ‘bend the knees, keep your back straight’ line hundreds of times, if not more.
There are thousands of videos and training out there on manual handling, safe lifting techniques and more. Trust me, I’ve done the research! What I couldn’t find was anything that was relevant for or specific to agriculture. Most of what I found is focused around heavy construction or manufacturing and while there are some similarities, we need something that makes sense for ag.
So, we decided to create a short instructional video, taking about 3 minutes of your time, to show you a few simple manual handling techniques and tips that actually make sense. There are many ways to provide information to your workers and we believe video is best. This is a good one to show your workers as part of a toolbox talk too.
For those who like a bit more detail, check the Code of Practice for Hazardous Manual Tasks.
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.