Investment in safety delivers productivity gains for Edenhope family farm

When Elise Kealy and her family decided to upgrade their livestock infrastructure, improving safety was a key priority. However, since the upgrades Ms Kealy says the benefits of investing in modern facilities have extended well beyond safety alone. 

Ms Kealy said the multi-generational family farm, located at Edenhope, Victoria, undertook a staged redevelopment of its sheep handling infrastructure between 2017 and 2020, installing two new sets of sheep yards, upgrading a shearing shed and adding roofs over both complexes.

“We're a family farm, and so safety is paramount, because you don't want to see another family member injured,” Ms Kealy said.

“We also have people come and work for us at various times, and we want to be able to employ the best staff that are available, and they'll be more likely to come to your farm or prioritise your work if you have modern, safe facilities.”

The old yards were removed before a new base was installed and modern yards constructed, including safer gates and stronger structures that reduced the risk of injuries to people, working dogs and livestock.

“We put in a new set of sheep yards that had gates where you won't catch your finger, where dogs won't catch their legs, that sort of thing,” she said.

The upgrades also delivered major efficiency gains. Modern yard design and improved workflow meant routine livestock tasks now required significantly fewer people.

“One person can do what it used to take three people to do,” Ms Kealy said.

The shearing shed was also modernised. While the original sheep gratings were retained, a new wool room was added, converting the conventional flat board to a raised board, significantly improving working conditions.

The change reduced bending for shed staff and helped minimise the risk of back injuries.

The redesign also improved workflow within the shed, allowing the same number of shed hands to support more shearers during a run. In fact, the productivity gains helped offset the cost of the investment.

“What we saved on wages paid the interest bill for the shed,” she said.

A cover over sheep yards makes the work more pleasant and productive.

Adding roofing over the yards delivered another major benefit by reducing weather-related delays and improving year-round usability.

“By having the cover over the yards, we never have hold ups due to wet sheep,” Ms Kealy said.

The roofing also improved comfort for workers, providing shade in summer and protection from wind and rain.

“It's just more enjoyable, because you're in the shade all day,” she said.

Additional improvements inside the shed included emergency stop buttons on shearing plants and even an industrial air conditioner to manage extreme summer heat.

During this year's January shearing run, the temperature inside the shed stayed around 30 degrees on a day when outside temperatures reached 46 degrees.

The improvements have also been well received by contractors and visitors to the farm.

“Stock agents and everyone’s happy to come and use the yards,” Ms Kealy said.

WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said the wide-ranging benefits Ms Kealy and her family have seen on their farm prove that prioritising safety and good business aren’t mutually exclusive.

“Investing in safer farm infrastructure not only helps reduce the risk of injuries, but can also improve efficiency, productivity, staff retention and engagement, and workplace culture,” Mr Jenkin said.

“Even simple measures like placing anti-fatigue mats in wool rooms, for example, can make a big difference. They protect against pains and strains, keep workers comfortable and focused and most importantly, show workers that their health and safety matters.”

Visit the WorkSafe Victoria website for guidance, tools and resources to support your farm safety journey.