Supporting seasonal and itinerant workers in agriculture

Information for farmers about supporting seasonal and itinerant workers in agricultural workplaces.

Why WHS matters for seasonal and itinerant workers

Seasonal and itinerant workers play a crucial role in Australia’s agricultural sector, particularly during peak periods such as fruit picking, harvest seasons and shearing.

Agriculture is one of the highest-risk industries, with hazards such as machinery, vehicles, animals, chemicals and environmental conditions contributing to workplace injuries and fatalities. The industry has one of the highest worker fatality rates of any industry in Australia.

Seasonal and itinerant workers may be at increased risk because they are often:

  • new to the property or unfamiliar with its hazards
  • from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds
  • required to work long hours during peak seasons
  • inexperienced with farm machinery or local safety expectations.

Providing a safe workplace for all workers, including seasonal and itinerant workers, is a legal requirement under Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws and an essential component of a productive, sustainable farm.

By focusing on hazard identification, training, safe equipment use and psychosocial wellbeing, you can create a safe, inclusive and compliant workplace. The responsibility to maintain a safe environment applies to all workers, including casual, seasonal and visiting workers.

Understand the risks

Machinery and vehicle hazards

Agriculture machinery is linked to severe injuries and fatalities in seasonal workplaces in NSW.

Top risk areas include:

  • plant rollover involving quad bikes,
  • SSVs and tractors
  • entanglement in unguarded machinery
  • unsafe vehicle loads or passenger practices.

Learn more about managing the risks of Plant, machinery and equipment and Quad bikes and SSVs.

Manual handling and repetitive work

Tasks such as fruit picking, packing, lifting, bending and carrying can cause strains and musculoskeletal injuries. Manual handling hazards are recognised as a common risk in the agriculture industry.

Learn more about managing the risks of Hazardous manual tasks.

Working with livestock

Livestock handling involves risks of kicks, bites, crush injuries and exposure to zoonotic diseases. Workers face additional hazards through close contact with cattle, sheep and other farm animals.

Learn more about managing the risks of Working with livestock.

Chemical exposure

Seasonal workers may be required to work around pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers. Incorrect handling or lack of understanding of chemical registers and labels can lead to acute or chronic health effects.

Learn more about managing the risks of Chemical exposure on farm.

Confined spaces

Confined spaces such as silos, tanks, pits and enclosed areas can pose serious risks on farms. These spaces may contain low oxygen levels, toxic gases or materials that can trap or bury a person, leading to serious injury or death.

Learn more about managing the risks of Confined spaces on farms.

Exposure to environmental conditions

Farm workers can be exposed to sun, heat, cold, dust and sudden weather changes, leading to risks of dehydration, heat stress or respiratory irritation.

Learn more about managing the risks of Hazardous physical working environments and Working in extreme heat.

Remote and isolated work

Agriculture often involves working alone or in remote areas without immediate access to assistance, heightening WHS risk in emergencies.

Learn more about managing the risks of Remote or isolated work.

Psychosocial hazards

Seasonal farm workers may experience:

  • isolation
  • stress from long hours
  • job insecurity
  • cultural or language barriers.

Learn more about managing the risks of Psychosocial hazards.

Water hazards

Water hazards such as dams, tanks, troughs, irrigation channels and flooded areas are common on farms and can pose a serious risk. Drowning can happen quickly and silently, especially when working alone or around vehicles and machinery.

Manage hazards by:

  • conducting a thorough risk assessment for water-based tasks, prioritising alternatives to entering water, and implementing site-specific safe operating and emergency procedures
  • ensuring workers are properly trained, supervised, and assessed (including swimming competency), with inclusive communication and consultation to support all workers
  • using and maintaining appropriate equipment and safety controls, including personal floating devices, stable vessels, rescue gear, buddy systems, and effective emergency response arrangements.

How to support seasonal and itinerant workers

Provide comprehensive inductions

You should provide site specific inductions that includes:

  • a site map showing hazards (such as overhead power lines), no go areas, location of amenities
  • safe operating procedures
  • emergency procedures and contacts
  • farm rules
  • remote or isolated work procedures
  • machinery, equipment and farm vehicle use and restrictions.

Provide proper training and assess competency

Everyone on the farm must have the skills and appropriate supervision necessary to carry out their tasks safely.
You should train seasonal workers and assess their competencies when you require them to complete tasks such as:

  • operating machinery, equipment and farm vehicles
  • handling chemicals
  • handling animals
  • using personal protective equipment (PPE).

Maintain equipment and install safety features

Poorly guarded machinery has been linked to serious injuries, particularly among young seasonal workers.
You should:

  • fit quad bikes with rollover protection and supply helmets
  • guard all augers and moving parts
  • keep machinery serviced and safe to operate.

Manage environmental hazards

Outdoor work hazards, including harsh weather and sun exposure, are well recognised WHS concerns.
Implement controls for:

  • sun protection (hats, sunscreen, shade breaks)
  • hydration and heat stress monitoring
  • weather related work modifications.

Support worker wellbeing

Given the high rates of stress, depression and isolation seen in agriculture, SafeWork NSW urges farmers to take steps to minimise psychosocial hazards.

Strategies include:

  • encouraging open communication
  • providing rest breaks
  • ensuring fair workloads
  • offering access to mental health support.

Provide clear communication for multilingual workforces

Seasonal labour forces often include workers with varying English proficiency.

Important steps include providing:

  • translated safety literature
  • visual signage
  • demonstration based training.
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