With spring in full swing and longer days on the land, it is a timely reminder to keep health, safety and wellbeing top of mind – for you, your team, and your business.
B+LNZ provides tools, resources and workshops to help you do this – see the section below for more information.
We’ve also been advised that WorkSafe is proactively working with businesses across New Zealand’s sheep, beef, and dairy sectors to strengthen understanding of health and safety responsibilities and support safer farming environments.
Between October and December 2025, WorkSafe inspectors will carry out around 1,000 planned visits to farms nationwide. They note these visits are not audits, but rather they’re about listening, learning, and sharing practical ways to make farming safer. The roughly hour-long visits will focus on high-risk areas such as vehicles and heavy machinery, and hazardous substances.
Mark Harris, B+LNZ’s Senior Extension Manager says, “A safe and healthy workplace is everyone’s job. What’s good about these visits is that they involve the whole team. Staff often have smart, creative ideas – like using a new app or tool – and this is a chance to bring those to the table.”
WorkSafe is gathering insights from farms of all shapes and sizes, and sharing useful tips and tricks picked up from other farmers.
“While you know your farm better than anyone, the WorkSafe team can share what’s working well elsewhere. It’s a two-way conversation that helps everyone lift their game,” says Mark.
These visits also help WorkSafe identify practical improvements and direct resources to areas that need it most, making sure support goes where it can have the biggest impact.
Farms will be randomly selected for visits, and Mark encourages farmers who are contacted to start the conversation. The WorkSafe team will work with you to find a time that suits. If they don’t hear back from you, there will likely be an unplanned visit from their team.
Or, if you’re interested in understanding how you’re doing health and safety-wise, you can opt-in and request a visit.
B+LNZ encourages farmers to engage with the process, not only to improve on-farm safety but also to avoid the risk of WorkSafe taking further action in future.
If improvements are needed on your farm, the WorkSafe inspector will proactively work with you to ensure you have all the information you need to make enhancements.
WorkSafe is building on the success of recent horticulture visits, which helped support that industry to improve safety outcomes and ensure everyone gets home at the end of the day.
“At the end of the day, it’s about getting everyone home safely for dinner,” says Mark.
Learn more about WorkSafe visits on their official website. If you have any questions about the visits, please contact WorkSafe direct.
Hands-on safety in action
A recent safety day at Steve Hirshberg’s property in Āpiti saw 20 local farmers get hands-on with quad and side-by-side safety. Run by CARNZ, the event focused on real-life scenarios and practical skills to help reduce accidents on farms. Read the full story.
B+LNZ resources to support you
B+LNZ has a range of tools and resources to help farmers improve on-farm health and safety. View Health & Safety resources.
If you would like to learn more about on-farm health and safety, the B+LNZ team run Farm Safety Management Workshops – please reach out to your local Extension Manager to request a workshop.