Don't get burnt out during harvest - plan for fire safety management

The harvest season can bring risks to the health and safety of farm workers, families and livelihoods.

Higher ambient temperatures, humidity and winds, dry stubble and hot machine parts and exhausts are all factors that can contribute to causing a fire. Developing and adopting a fire safety management plan is one of the best ways to protect workers, livestock, and plant from harm.

Here are some basic steps to take to minimise the risk of fires during harvesting.

Agricultural chemicals

Chemicals are commonly used on farms, either to operate machinery or to control weeds or pests. Chemicals, if not transported, stored and handled safely, can be dangerous or hazardous to health. Most farms use some form of dangerous goods, either to operate machinery or to control weeds or pests.

Consulting with workers: PAGEO

Consultation is a collaborative process between operators of petroleum and geothermal energy facilities and their workers. It involves sharing information and ensuring that views of workers are taken into account when making decisions. 

The Work Health and Safety (Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Operations) Regulations (WHS PAGEO Regulations) requires operators to involve workers by consulting:

Nomination of an operator

Under the Work Health and Safety (Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Operations) Regulations 2022 (WHS PAGEO Regulations) no work is permitted on a facility or operation unless the nomination of an operator has been accepted by the regulator and the nominated operator has been added to the register being maintained by the regulator [r. 20].

It should be noted that this requirement over-rides any previous registration of operators that may have taken place when applying for pipeline licences etc.

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