The NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis and NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty will be joined by the Independent Member for Orange Philip Donato today as SafeWork NSW hosts an industry roundtable to discuss the prevention of workplace fatalities and serious injuries in the agriculture sector.
Now in its second year, the event brings together leaders from across government and industry to focus on practical solutions for reducing fatalities and serious injuries in the sector.
Agriculture remains one of Australia's most dangerous industries, with consistently high rates of workplace fatalities and serious injuries. In 2024, SafeWork NSW responded to 12 workplace fatalities in the agricultural industry in NSW.
Incidents involving farm vehicles, including quad bikes and side-by-side vehicles (SSVs), remained one of the leading causes of fatalities and serious injuries in agriculture across NSW last year.
The nature of farm work presents a unique set of safety risks-from operating heavy machinery like tractors, quad bikes, and side by side vehicles, to the handling of hazardous chemicals and livestock.
This year's agenda focuses on real-world challenges, including the daily risks faced by farmers, the barriers to changing safety behaviour, and the importance of effective prevention strategies.
A dedicated session, Prevention in Action, will explore proven safety measures, followed by a collaborative discussion on designing future initiatives that are practical, relevant, and industry led.
Attendees will include representatives from local agricultural employers, NSW Farmers, unions, academics, relevant government agencies, and the Country Women's Association.
As part of the ongoing initiatives sparked by the 2024 Agriculture Roundtable, the SafeWork NSW Improving Connectivity for Farmers six-month pilot program is helping enhance mobile connectivity, signal strength, and reliability for farmers across regional NSW.
The pilot commenced on 17 March 2025 and will run through to September 2025, covering the Trangie to Burcher region and surrounding areas.
- The program targets several key postcodes, including 2800 (Orange)-a major regional centre-as well as towns and localities across the following postcodes: 2671 (West Wyalong), 2672 (Burcher), 2800 (Orange, Clifton Grove, Borenore), 2804 (Manildra, Cudal), 2806 (Molong), 2820 (Trangie), 2821 (Nevertire), 2823 (Tottenham), 2830 (Dubbo), 2864 (Condobolin), 2865 (Tullibigeal), 2866 (Lake Cargelligo), 2867 (Euabalong), 2868 (Nymagee), 2870 (Parkes), 2871 (Forbes), 2873 (Trundle), 2874 (Tullamore), 2875 (Fifield), and 2877 (Albert).
This initiative aims to support safer, more connected farming operations in regional NSW.
Eligible farmers can claim up to $1,000 through the Small Business Rebate towards the purchase of a mobile signal booster or a mobile satellite internet system.
The first Agriculture Roundtable held in 2024 laid the foundation for stronger collaboration between government and industry on farm safety. It highlighted key issues and led to practical actions based on industry feedback.
The NSW Government is continuing this work through the second roundtable, which aims to keep safety front of mind across the sector. By working together, the goal is to raise awareness, inspire action, and implement practical safety controls that help reduce fatalities and serious injuries on farms.
The roundtable will also feature discussions around post-incident support for workers, workplaces, and communities, and will examine effective safety behaviour on farms around the most common hazards seen by SafeWork NSW inspectors.
Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:
"The Minns Labor government remains committed through the annual Agricultural Roundtable to address workplace health and safety concerns.
"There are more than 81,000 workers in NSW employed in agricultural industries, including farming, fishing, and forestry. Workers employed in agriculture are at greater risk of being killed or injured at work than most.
"Plant, machinery, vehicles and animals are the biggest dangers in agricultural workplace settings, and businesses and managers should ensure everyone who works in their business is provided with safe equipment and procedures as well as the right skills and supervision, to carry out their work safely.
"It is a fundamental right for every worker to go to their job and come home safely to their loved ones."
Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:
"Farm safety is extremely important, there are many hazards unique to agricultural work and it is paramount that workers have the correct protections in place to ensure they are safe at work.
"This roundtable is a great opportunity for agricultural industry members and workers to discuss hazard reduction and safety behaviour they have found to reduce workplace injury and death, and how these lessons can be applied across the industry."
Independent Member for Orange Philip Donato said:
"Farming accounts for one in every five worker deaths; The farming environment is hazard-filled, including quad bikes and other farming machinery, animal handling, biohazards, chemicals…the list goes on.
"It's vitally important for those engaged in farming practices to identify risks and prevent injury and fatalities while undertaking their important work in producing our food and fibre.
"I welcome the NSW Government's annual Agricultural Roundtable being held in Orange next week, which is terrific opportunity for our local farming community and stakeholders to discuss workplace health and safety concerns, and consideration of technological farming advancements such as virtual fencing in mitigating farm accidents and injuries."
Acting Deputy Secretary of SafeWork NSW, Trent Curtin said:
"The Agriculture Roundtable is a key opportunity for SafeWork NSW to raise awareness and work with the farmers to improve safety and help drive down farm related deaths.
"Farms and agriculture remain one of NSW's most dangerous industries. We are committed to working with industry to make sure that our farmers can go to work and return home safely every day."
