Overview

Agriculture is of vital importance to South Australia’s economy, employing more than 30,000 South Australians, or about 3 per cent of the state’s workforce. It is also an extremely dangerous industry with 56 deaths and 8.3 fatalities per 100,000 workers from 2003 to 2023.

Six workplace deaths in the sector and at least 13 serious injuries were notified to SafeWork SA in 2024-25. The fatalities included three quadbike crashes, one worker trapped in farm machinery, and two trapped in grain silos.

Farming is a generational business where WHS knowledge is often passed down informally.

Farmers typically learn about WHS through conversations with peers, on-farm training courses, or experiences in other industries.

However, there is a significant gap in formal WHS education and compliance, particularly among older generations.

To address these issues, a comprehensive strategy has been developed comprising key initiatives. The initiatives outline the actions SafeWork SA will take to mitigate agriculture industry injuries and ensure compliance.

Claims data

The Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Industry priority harms 2025 report analysed injury claims data from Return to Work SA data from July 2016 to June 2025.

Mushroom and Vegetable Farming, Sheep, Beef Cattle and Grain Farming, and Fruit and Tree Nut Growing made up almost 60 percent of all claims.

The main injury mechanisms were body stressing (30.01%), being hit by moving objects (25.63%), falls, trips and slips (18.7%), and hitting objects with the body (12.08%).

Between July 2021 and December 2024, the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Industry reported 325 notifications to SafeWork SA, including 13 fatalities, 122 notifiable serious injuries, 42 notifiable dangerous incidents, 11 notifications prescribed by the Regulations, and 137 others (complaints, non-notifiable incidents, and psychosocial hazards).

Fatalities were mainly caused by on-site vehicle accidents, falls from height, and incidents involving unguarded machinery.

Serious injuries were most commonly due to being hit by moving objects, vehicle incidents, unguarded plant, falling objects, serious lacerations, falls from heights, slips, trips, and falls, chemical burns, and serious eye injuries.

The most common dangerous incidents were electric shocks, falls or releases from height, and uncontrolled implosions, explosions, or fires.

Campaign information

From 1 October 2025, SafeWork SA will run a 12-month farm safety campaign to assist in reducing the number of workplace deaths and injuries by ensuring compliance with Work Health and Safety laws.

The campaign will involve SafeWork SA Inspectors visiting a number of farms, including those identified as having a high number of workplace injury claims.

The farms will be audited for their compliance with WHS laws with a focus on:

  • Use and maintenance of farming plant and equipment, including tractors and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
  • Guarding of plant and equipment such as augers and conveyers
  • Falls from heights
  • Electrical safety
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Chemical handling and storage
  • Induction and training for all workers
  • Working in confined spaces (silos)
  • Induction and training for new workers.

What SafeWork SA Inspectors will do during the campaign

  • Assist farmers to identify hazards and reduce the risk of fatalities and serious injuries by ensuring compliance with WHS legislation.
  • Ensure compliance is met– which may include issuing statutory notices if breaches of WHS legislation are identified and cannot be fixed while the inspector is on site.
  • Have a conversation with farmers around meeting compliance with any notices issued.
  • Offer support through our free Advisory Service, which is available when requested all year-round.
  • SafeWork SA inspectors will also collect data to identify trends, common issues, and areas requiring additional focus. Statutory notices will be issued for non-compliance.

What SafeWork SA Inspectors will NOT do during the campaign

  • Issue on-the-spot fines.
  • Take possession of your farm and close it down.
  • Observe your farm from a distance in order to catch you doing something that’s unsafe.
  • Rely on a control measure being ‘common sense’ instead of safe systems of work.

High risk work licensing

High-risk work licences are required for a number of tasks including crane and hoist operation, forklift operation and scaffolding work.

These licences are used widely across several industries including manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and fishing and transport and warehousing.

SafeWork SA’s 2025-26 compliance campaigns will include audits aim to ensure that high-risk work (HRW) is being carried out safely and competently.

The audits will focus on verifying that workers hold a valid HRW licence relevant to the tasks they perform and that employers have systems in place to sight, verify, and record these licences.

SafeWork SA Advisory Service

As part of the campaign, farmers are encouraged to contact SafeWork SA’s Advisory Service to help make their properties safer for themselves, their workers and their families.

The Advisory Service offers free safety advice and resources while a specialist advisor with industry experience can visit to provide practical assistance with reducing WHS hazards.

Advertisements will also be placed in regional media and on digital platforms over the course of the campaign to remind farmers about their WHS obligations and how SafeWork SA can assist.

To request a free advisory visit or to speak to an advisor, visit safework.sa.gov.au or call 1300 365 255.

Further links: