TasFarmers Matters - Safety comes first on every job

As we approach National Ag Day and celebrate the agriculture industry, its people, and the vital role it plays in providing food, fibre, and jobs, it is timely to think about safety.

The biggest safety challenge in agriculture is remembering that we ourselves are the most valuable asset.

We are all busy and short on time, making it easy to forget the value of our own safety. We need to shift our mindset.

There is constant pressure to get jobs done quickly, like loading trucks to a deadline or getting crops and produce away, but how often do we stop to think about how to do it as safely as possible?

If we are honest, deadlines and fatigue are behind most incidents.

When the pressure is on, our first thought should be to protect ourselves and those we work with.

Thinking safety first means making a cultural change in how we go about business on the farm.

It takes ongoing effort to raise awareness and to frame safety in a way that resonates with whoever we are working with or talking to.

We all want a good return on investment and to get home for dinner.

It sounds simple.

It is not always front of mind.

Common sense protects us, yet sometimes fear takes over, fear of failure, financial stress, or upsetting someone who is waiting.

That is when decisions get made for us, not by us.

This is when we are most at risk.

Most injuries and fatalities do not happen to the inexperienced.

They happen when someone who knows what they are doing makes the wrong call in a split second.

Nine times out of 10, you get away with it, but that feeling in your stomach tells you how close it was.

Those who do safety well, communicate well.

Safety should be your top priority for yourself and your team.

Do not worry about getting the job done if it means staying safe.

Sometimes it is as simple as letting someone know where you will be so they can find you if something goes wrong.

Communication is one of the biggest keys to good work health and safety.

If you are working with others, take five minutes at the start of the day to check in.

It might seem unproductive, but it can make all the difference.

Someone might mention something that helps you spot a real risk or hazard.

It might mean pairing up instead of working alone.

Your greatest tool is your gut feeling.

Trust it.

If something feels off or wrong, step back

As you have done many times before, find another way and eliminate the risk.

Think safety first.

Do not become complacent.

Reframe your approach.

We all want to make it home at the end of the day.

Take a safe moment before every job.

Think safety first.