Emergency preparedness and first aid
Rural properties must be prepared for emergencies. Being well prepared with emergency plans and equipment will ensure that the potential damage to people and property is minimised as much as possible.
Make sure:
- emergency plans and procedures are prepared and communicated to all workers and they are regularly updated with any changes
- emergency plans include plans for dealing with incidents and injury at all levels of severity, including
- poisoning
- fire
- explosion
- spills of hazardous substances
- machinery entanglement
- telephones and emergency numbers for ambulance, fire, police and emergency services are included in plans and induction
- communication systems are in place to ensure that all workers are in contact with others on the farm, and that emergencies can be notified immediately
- the property address is signposted in accordance with emergency service requirements
- the coordinates and size of your nearest airstrip is readily available for the flying doctor and emergency aircraft.
First aid and workplace amenities
Employers in the agricultural, fisheries and forestry industry must provide workers with:
- appropriate safe and clear access to and from the workplace
- clean, safe and accessible amenities and toilets in a serviceable condition
- reasonably accessible, appropriate and adequate first aid equipment and a trained first aid person to treat an injury suffered by workers
- easy access to clean drinking water
- separate drinking containers for all workers
- a sheltered area to eat meals and take breaks away from work activity that could expose the worker to a health and safety risk, such as a:
- caravan
- tent attached to a vehicle
- tractor or harvester cabin.
Special steps must be taken to ensure the drinking water supplied from rain water tanks is not contaminated by vermin or bird droppings on roofs.