“No one was hurt.”

It’s a phrase heard on farms across Australia after a close call.

A slip climbing down from a picker. A tractor reversing a little too close. Clearing a blockage in a hurry. A shortcut taken because the job needed to get done quickly.

The moment passes, the job continues and the near miss is quickly forgotten.

On many farms, these incidents never make it past the ute conversation.

But these moments often tell us far more about farm safety than we realise.

Near misses are early warning signs. They reveal weaknesses in systems, processes or behaviours before someone is seriously injured.

Across agriculture, regulators are placing increasing emphasis on how businesses identify and manage these risks. Agriculture remains one of the highest-risk industries in Australia, and expectations around actively managing hazards continues to grow.

But improving safety on farms doesn’t start with regulators. It usually starts with recognising the warning signs already happening within the business.

And on many farms, those warning signs are near misses.

Three simple ways to stay ahead of risk:

Talk about it 
If something nearly goes wrong, raise it with your team and encourage them to speak up. Everyone sees different risks — you won’t catch them all yourself.

Fix it 
If machinery or equipment is unsafe, tag it out. If a process isn’t safe, adjust it. Allocate responsibility and a timeframe so it doesn’t fall off the list.

Document it 
This is where many farms fall short. A simple note of what happened, what was discussed and what action was taken can make a significant difference. If you can’t show that you identified and addressed the hazard, regulators will assume you didn’t.

Accidents can still happen in well-run businesses. But being able to demonstrate that you actively manage and document risks can significantly influence the outcome — including reducing exposure to enforcement action, fines or prosecution.

Near misses aren’t inconveniences. 
They’re early warnings.

Ignoring them can become far more costly than taking the time to address them.

A question worth considering on any farm is this: how many near misses does it take before something changes?

WHS Support

Josh Ingham is the founder of Ingham & Co, a farm safety and leadership consultancy working alongside agricultural businesses across Australia. With a background in farming and years spent supporting growers on the ground, Josh helps farms implement practical systems that protect people and keep businesses compliant without unnecessary complexity.

Need help navigating a WHS issue or strengthening your safety systems? Full Cotton Australia levy payers are entitled to a Free On-Farm Safety Review with Josh Ingham from Ingham & Co (travel costs apply). Get in touch here.

20 April 2026