Farmers want Health and Safety in the Workplace, but have major concerns around the Health and Safety Reform Bill
- The lack of consultation at grass root farming level.
- The over regulation applied with an iron fisted approach.
- No passengers on quad bikes, is preventing the Service industries i.e. stock agents, fert reps, vets etc, from servicing our industry adequately.
- Farmers not having jurisdiction to formulate risk analysis to determine safe practice on their own farms.
- Social conditioning by Government will bring an end to small farming businesses, whereas the Corporates will excel in this environment.
- The Farming industry is moving further towards blame and litigation.
- Common sense and self responsibility are being eroded with the onus of liability sitting with farm owners/managers.
- Generational farming will encounter a huge cultural shift with children/grandchildren losing opportunities of farming education and the freedom of farm life.
Solutions
- Further consultation, participation and partnership between all stake holders and Government.
- Farming workplace guidelines and regulations to benefit the farming industry going forward.
Our concerns and solutions need to be recognised, discussed and implemented before the Health and Safety Reform Bill is passed.
