Health and Safety on Farms in the Wet Season

Farming in New Zealand is a year-round responsibility. The wet season (usually in winter) has particular challenges that require an increased focus on health and safety practices.

Working in wet conditions presents hazards for you, your employees and your property. These include:

•       Rain-soaked ground and slippery surfaces make it easy to lose footing, increasing the risk of sprains, fractures or more severe injuries

•       Machinery, such as tractors and quadbikes, become harder to control raising the likelihood of accidents and machinery damage

•       Livestock can be unpredictable and difficult to manage when moving them through flooded or slippery areas, and

•       Flooding can restrict access to key areas of farmland, damage infrastructures and contaminate water supplies.

Improving health and safety: The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 outlines the responsibilities of both employers and employees. It requires all parties to take reasonable care for their own safety and ensure that their actions do not adversely affect the health and safety of others.

With this year’s heavy winter rain, it is essential to implement effective risk mitigation strategies. Checking and repairing drainage systems may reduce the risk of flooding or damage to other infrastructure before the onset of heavy rain. This includes cleaning drains, reinforcing culverts and ensuring paddocks are equipped with adequate runoff channels.

Some other risk mitigation measures include:

•       Providing all workers with waterproof clothing and appropriate footwear

•       Conducting regular maintenance checks on all equipment

•       Ensuring health and safety policies and procedures are up to date, and 

•       Having adequate training and supervision for all workers. 

By proactively implementing these safety measures, farmers can reduce the risks associated with wet weather and create a safer working environment for themselves, their employees and their livestock.

DISCLAIMER: All the information published is true and accurate to the best of the authors’ knowledge. It should not be a substitute for legal advice. No liability is assumed by the authors or publisher for losses suffered by any person or organisation relying directly or indirectly on this article. Views expressed are those of individual authors, and do not necessarily reflect the view of this firm. Articles appearing in this newsletter may be reproduced with prior approval from the editor and credit given to the source. Copyright, NZ LAW Limited, 2019. Editor: Adrienne Olsen. E-mail: adrienne@adroite.co.nz. Ph: 029 286 3650 or 04 496 5513.