SafeWork NSW farm safety visits

SafeWork NSW farm safety visits: What you need to know 

Between March and May 2026, SafeWork NSW inspectors will be visiting workplaces across the agriculture sector as part of a targeted program to support safer, healthier workplaces in NSW.

An inspector will contact you to arrange a suitable date and time for any visit.

We’re sharing this so you have time to prepare, understand the focus areas, and take a practical, measured approach.

What inspectors will be looking at

Inspectors will concentrate on a small number of practical, well‑known risk areas, including:

• Training and induction – ensuring operators are competent and supervised
• Rollover protection – use of higher‑order controls such as seatbelts and rollover protection
• Separation of people and plant – systems to reduce interaction with moving machinery
• Machinery guarding – guarding that is fit‑for‑purpose, maintained and replaced after maintenance
• Workplace facilities – availability and cleanliness of appropriate facilities

The emphasis is on known risks and whether reasonable, practical controls are in place.

What you should do now

SafeWork NSW is encouraging businesses to review their current safety practices ahead of any visit. This may include checking:

• Training and induction records
• Risk assessments and safe work procedures
• That controls align with the hierarchy of control

A range of practical checklists and guidance is available on the SafeWork NSW website, covering farm machinery, quad bikes, vehicles and workplace facilities.