What we do

FarmSafe takes a 3-pronged approach to rural safety with each of the three programmes, FarmSafe Awareness, FarmSafe Plans and FarmSafe Skills, focusing on a different area of safety.  We aim to reduce the number and severity of on-farm accidents by providing easy access to workshops that raise awareness and provide practical guidance in undertaking farming tasks.

We design and tailor the range of Programmes to ensure they are 100% relevant to the rural industry and then ensure these Programmes are available within the local rural community.  Our network of 10 Regional Co-ordinators cover the entire country, providing access to workshops that are conveniently located and fit within the busy demands of the farm's business. 

FarmSafe programmes are relevant to all New Zealand pastoral and horticulture farm owners, managers, staff and family members.  No matter how small or large the business is, the Programmes will be relevant to everyone involved (over the age of 16 years).

Although they can be attended in any order, the programmes have been designed to follow on from each other:

  • FarmSafe Awareness is the first step of the 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.
  • FarmSafe Skills is a series of interactive workshops that focus on practical skills such as ATV riding, chainsaw operation, driving tractors, riding motorbikes, animal handling, four wheel drives, and agrichemicals. The FarmSafe Skills Agrichemical Approved Handler workshop is designed for farmers and growers who store and use agrichemicals.  Participants who successfully complete this course will gain an Approved Handler certification to comply with HSNO (1 January 2007).