12/09/2025
Great to hear that most farmers are doing H&S well. Farms are also homes so vital to protect workers from harm. Keep up the great work!🥰
We’ve got some early insights from the field! Over the past two months, our inspectors have visited over 460 horticulture businesses—and overall, they’re pretty happy with what they’ve seen. But there are a few key areas where improvements could make a real difference:
🔸 Vehicle maintenance and power take-off (PTO) shafts safety: Tractors and other machinery must be properly maintained, and PTO shafts must be guarded. We’ve seen recent incidents involving unguarded PTOs that led to serious injuries, including amputations.
🔸 Hazardous substances: Businesses need to manage pesticides, fertilisers, and other hazardous substances safely—this includes keeping a complete inventory and ensuring correct storage and use.
More information on the horticulture assessments will be available next month.
For practical guidance and resources, visit: www.worksafe.govt.nz/agriculture