Moree district cotton growers have received practical, on-farm advice to help reduce workplace health and safety risks, prepare for SafeWork NSW inspections and protect their workers, families and businesses.

The WHS workshop, run by SKIVL Training and Plant Hire and supported by Cotton Australia and AgSkilled, was presented by WHS specialist Peter Tremble, who stepped growers through practical systems that can be applied on farm to reduce health and safety risks.

The session followed a number of recent SafeWork NSW inspections and audits of farming operations in the region and was held ahead of 2026 National Farm Safety Week, which runs from 19 to 25 July.

Mr Tremble outlined some of the most common farm safety and compliance risks, including unguarded PTOs, belts, pulleys and augers; a lack of lock-out/tag-out procedures; untrained machinery operators; children riding on quad bikes or utes; missing chemical registers or Safety Data Sheets; poor livestock yard design; a lack of contractor inductions; and gaps in emergency plans and first aid.

Machinery, vehicles, livestock and chemicals remain among the highest-risk areas on farm.

Growers were encouraged to focus on simple, documented systems that show risks are being identified and managed. Recommended actions included completing an annual whole-of-farm baseline audit or risk assessment, recording staff training, ensuring appropriate supervision and contractor management, providing adequate first aid kits in vehicles and sheds, establishing clear emergency procedures, introducing lone and isolated worker systems, and using a practical lock-out/tag-out process.

A key message from the workshop was that documenting systems and training can help reduce risk and liability, and that taking practical steps now is better than doing nothing.

Mr Tremble also talked growers through what to expect during a SafeWork NSW visit and how to respond in a way that supports the best possible outcome.

Cotton Australia’s Northern NSW Regional Manager Richard Gray and myBMP Sustainability Implementation Officer Annette McCaffery spoke with growers about the myBMP program and the support available to help farm businesses meet current WHS standards. AgSkilled’s Sonia Stevenson also outlined funding opportunities and training programs available to farmers and agricultural workers.

Growers wanting support to review their WHS systems are encouraged to contact their local Cotton Australia regional manager, or arrange an audit by emailing Cooper Scoles from SKIVL at [email protected].