Frequently asked questions and answers

Here are a list of questions and answers that we are often asked.  If you have any further questions or queries, please call 0800 545 747.

1. About FarmSafe

What is FarmSafe?

FarmSafe is an ACC and Federated Farmers 'industry good' initiative, which aims to reduce agriculture and horticulture accidents by providing quality training, assessment and services. We are focused on driving down the alarming rate of injury and death on New Zealand's rural properties.

The FarmSafe programmes combine practical tuition from qualified facilitators, and interactive sessions to draw on participant experience.  FarmSafe Awareness and FarmSafe Plans are one-day workshops that focus on the practical management of workplace safety on farm.  These workshops are supported by FarmSafe Skills, a series of interactive workshops designed to teach and assess competence in practical farming tasks.

FarmSafe is not legislation-based, although our programmes include material you need to achieve for compliance.

Who owns FarmSafe?

FarmSafe is not owned by any one organisation.  It is managed by a consortium of three education-based organisations: Agriculture New Zealand Ltd, the Agriculture Industry Training Organisation and Telford Rural Polytechnic. FarmSafe is supported by ACC and Federated Farmers.

What are FarmSafe's vision, mission and values?

FarmSafe's vision is to make the rural community a safer place.

The FarmSafe mission is to provide quality training and services to make rural people safer in the work place.

FarmSafe is designed by rural New Zealand for rural New Zealanders and is based on the following values:

  • Customer focused
  • Affinity with the needs of Rural New Zealand
  • World leading - unashamedly Kiwi
  • Integrity in our actions and relationships
  • Committed to quality
  • Innovative in our thinking

What is ACC's involvement?

ACC was instrumental in setting up FarmSafe and it has assisted with funding the development of the FarmSafe Awareness and FarmSafe Plans programmes. We have a close working relationship with ACC who are extremely supportive of our initiative.

2. The FarmSafe programmes

What are the three FarmSafe programmes?

FarmSafe is made up of three programmes each fousing on a different area of rural property safety. Although they can be attended in any order, the programmes have been designed to follow on from each other.

A one-day introductory programme FarmSafe Awareness is the first step of a 3-pronged approach to safety, designed to heighten awareness of injury prevention.  FarmSafe Plans is the second step which focuses on the development of a health and safety plan for the participant's property and FarmSafe Skills is the third step. The programme is a series of interactive workshops which focus on practical skills such as ATV riding, chainsaw operation, driving tractors, riding motorbikes and agrichemical use. The FarmSafe Skills Agrichemical Approved Handler workshop is designed for farmers and growers who store and use agrichemicals.  Participants who successfully complete this workshop will gain an Approved Handler certification to comply with HSNO requirements (from 1 January 2007).

Who are the FarmSafe programmes aimed at?

FarmSafe programmes are tailored specifically to agriculture and horticultural sectors.  They make no distinction for age or experience in the industry and are relevant to all New Zealand pastoral and horticulture farm owners, managers, staff and family members.  The programmes are suitable for all farming and horticulture businesses, no matter how small or large and they are delivered locally by our team of dedicated Regional Coordinators at a time and venue to suit.

Is there a cost?

There is currently no charge for FarmSafe workshops with the exception of Skills Agrichemical Approved Handler which is $100.00 (incl. GST)and GROWSAFE workshop which is $150.00 (incl GST). Participants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents or Australian citizens over 16 years of age.

How much time do the programmes take?

FarmSafe Awareness and FarmSafe Plans are one-day workshops.
FarmSafe Skills workshops are held over two days, some weeks apart, except for Agrichemicals/Approved Handler which is a one-day workshop.

Is there extra work I have to complete at home?

Aside from putting what you have learnt into practice at home, there is no additional work required at home to receive your certificate.

Why should I attend the FarmSafe programmes?

Every day, 11 farmers or growers are seriously injured, and, on average one farmer or grower is killed every two to three weeks. Workplace accidents can cost a business in all sorts of ways - reduced productivity and profitability and the stress and psychological affect on families and their communities. And, on top of that, there are the significant national costs. In the year ending June 2007 there were 4548 new ACC claims and 4762 ongoing claims in agriculture costing New Zealand agriculture as a whole $69.2 million.

I'm very experienced - what are you going to tell me I don't already know?

Age and experience are no protection from serious injury and even death on the farm. In fact, the risk of injury increases with age and experience, rather than decreases.  Feedback from participants shows that everyone, young mature, inexperienced or experienced, takes something away from the programmes. ACC commissioned research in 2005 found that, overall, 80% of participants said FarmSafe helped them improve or look at their farm safety practices differently. The programmes are interactive and a key feature is the sharing of ideas and experiences. Over 52,000 individuals have participated in a FarmSafe programme and found the experience valuable. Even for the most experienced farmer, there is always something to learn.

I've been farming for over 30 years, so I know I'm okay - I'll just send my staff along …

Age and experience are no protection from serious injury and even death on the farm. In fact the risk of injury increases with age and experience, rather than decreases.  In the year ending June 2005, the 40-50 age group recorded the highest number of ACC claims 293 amounting to $1.787 million. Feedback from participants shows that everyone, young or mature, inexperienced or experienced, takes something valuable away from the programmes. It is important to lead from the front when it comes to turning around the alarming rural fatality and injury statistics.  Your staff need to see that you take health and safety seriously.

Are there ACC rebates and if so, when and what courses do I need to do?

ACC introduced the ACC Workplace Safety Discount Scheme.  This provides levy payers with less than 10 staff or less than $450,000 in liable earnings, with a 10% discount on the work component of their ACC levy for farm employers and self employed who can show sound health and safety practices. In most cases this will involve attending a training workshop such as FarmSafe's Agrichemical Approved Handler Workshop.

Who can apply for an ACC Workplace Safety Discount?

If you are a self employed farmer/grower, you employ staff, or you are the person responsible for the employer's health and safety management practices, you can apply for the discount if:

  • You have up to $450,000 per annum in payroll or are employing 10 or less full-time (or full-time equivalent) staff; and
  • Your work falls within the specified ACC classification units in the agriculture sector; or
  • You have attended a relevant training workshop (i.e. FarmSafe Plans); or
  • You can show relevant experience and capability in managing health and safety practices for at least 12 months; and
  • You agree to a possible on-site audit of your health and safety systems by ACC approved auditors.

3. FarmSafe Skills Agrichemical Approved Handler Workshop

What agrichemicals does the Approved Handler certification cover?

This information is available on the ERMA website (www.ermanz.govt.nz) and is covered in the FarmSafe Skills Agrichemical Approved Handler workshop.

Is it the farm or the person that's certified?

Individuals are certified. Please refer to the ERMA website at www.ermanz.govt.nz for detailed information.

Who needs to do it - one person on the farm or everyone?

One person on the farm is sufficient. However, they must assume full responsibility for the actions of others and are required to supervise others. This person must be readily available or contactable.  Please refer to the ERMA website at www.ermanz.govt.nz for detailed information.

I've attended a GROWSAFE course - is it the same?

The workshops are similar. However a GROWSAFE certificate is not an Approved Handler Certificate. Persons who have done GROWSAFE prior to 2005 may not have an Approved Handler certificate.

What is the difference between FarmSafe and GROWSAFE?

GROWSAFE was established primarily to promote the safe use of agrichemicals in the horticulture sector. In certain circumstances, it is a requirement for growers to have a GROWSAFE certificate for conditions of supply. FarmSafe is an industry initiative which exists to drive down New Zealand's alarming rural injury and fatality statistics.  FarmSafe programmes raise awareness of potential hazards which can cause injury and death and encourage farmers to proactively reduce on farm hazards for themselves, their employees and their families.

What certificates do I get and what's the difference?

If you attend a GROWSAFE workshop you get a GROWSAFE certificate and an Approved Handler certificate if deemed competent. If you attend a FarmSafe Skills Agrichemicals Approved Handler workshop you receive a FarmSafe certificate and an Approved Handler certificate if deemed competent.

Where does the FarmSafe Agrichemical certificate come from?

The Approved Handler certificate is issued by the test certifier on behalf of ERMA. The FarmSafe certificate is issued by Telford Rural Polytechnic.

How long until I get my certificate?

The Approved Handler certificate is issued via a test certifier by ERMA. This can take up to two months. The GROWSAFE certificate is issued by ASL on behalf of the NZAET and also takes up to two months.

How long is my certificate valid for?

The certificate is valid for five years from the date of issue.

If I don't have my Agrichemical Approved Handler certification, is there any penalty?

No, but you will not be able to purchase or apply certain agrichemicals.  Please refer to ERMA's website at www.ermanz.govt.nz for details.

Can I send someone else to pick up agrichemicals?

Yes, you may nominate anyone to pick up agrichemicals, however the final responsibility rests with the Approved Handler. Please refer to ERMA's website at www.ermanz.govt.nz for details.

Where can I get an Agrichemical book?

Either on the ERMA website, www.ermanz.govt.nz or through Bennetts Bookshop (phone 04 499 3433).

How long until I get my certificate?

Approved Handler and GROWSAFE certificates can take up to two months. FarmSafe certificates are issued monthly.

4. General information about FarmSafe's workshops

Can anyone attend FarmSafe programmes?

You must be a New Zealand or Australian citizen, a New Zealand permanent resident and over the age of 16 years.

Do Agriculture ITO trainees get credits?

If the Agriculture ITO qualification has optional credits, it is possible that the trainee could gain credits toward that qualification.  Trainees should check with their Agriculture ITO Training Adviser.

How academic are the programmes and can I have help with reading and writing?

There are written assessments to be completed as part of the FarmSafe programmes and 80% of participants successfully complete these. There are hosts available to help with reading and writing if required.  Please contact FarmSafe for more information on 0800 545 747

What happens if I don't pass?

You will be given the opportunity to re-sit.  The assessment will be returned to you with the markers' assessments.

If I have six or seven staff, will you come to my farm?

Yes, FarmSafe Skills workshops require six to eight participants.  FarmSafe Plans, FarmSafe Awareness and the FarmSafe Skills Agrichemicals Approved Handler workshops require 12 to 15 participants.

What if I can't remember the date I left school?

Take your birth date and add 16 years.

Where do the assessments go?

Telford Rural Polytechnic.

Is it compulsory to attend FarmSafe courses?

No.