The Winter 2017-18 campaign encouraged farmers to plan for safety all year long. Calendars were distributed through FSA and ISU Extension and Outreach offices as well as at farm shows and events. Below, find online and printable resources for developing a farm safety plan.
Safety on the farm doesn’t happen by accident.
A farm should have a safety plan, just like any other business. Because each farm is unique, it may be difficult to find a template that exactly matches your farm’s enterprises. Whether you farm ten acres or 1000, there are a few basic components of a farm safety plan:
- Identification of hazards and risks on the farm
- Prevention and control of hazards and risks
- Development of safety policies and procedures for farm workers
- Education and training of employees
- Evaluation of changing hazards and risks on the farm and of employee training programs
The links and templates below provide templates for risk and hazard assessment, strategies for prevention, example policies, and employee safety training.
Safety should be included in your farm’s overall business plan. Farm management consultant Dick Wittman has developed this Process Improvement Audit Checklist for assessing which areas on your farm could benefit from Process Improvement, including farm safety.
From Iowa Farmer Today, Farm Safety Doesn’t Happen by Accident.
Downloadable Templates:
This Farm Safety Handbook Template from Rural Mutual Insurance focuses on policies and training for employees.
The Agricultural Health and Safety Network in Canada has a customizable Farm Safety Plan handbook that includes Farm Safety Mapping, information about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and employee training. Find additional resources on their website.
This Farm Safety Starter Guide from Australia provides templates for farm hazard mapping and examples and templates for risk assessment.
Online Tools:
Safer Farm: An online hazard identification and management tool. Formerly known as FARM-HAT, this an excellent resource for farms and ranches, agritourism farms, and direct market operations.
On Farm Food Safety: Provides an extensive list of forms and templates covering food and worker safety.