Fatigue is behind many incidents and injuries on farms and the risks to everyone’s safety increases during busy periods, like harvest.
There’s no quiet day on a farm, but at certain times the amount of work that needs to be done ramps up. The harvest period is one of those times when working harder for longer can lead to fatigue and serious safety risks.
Research shows that working continuously for 17 hours has the same effect on how we function as a 0.05 blood alcohol concentration.
“Fatigue is among the many hazards farmers face, particularly at busy times, and the consequences can be tragic,” said WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety, Sam Jenkin.
“When you’re fatigued, your decision-making is impaired and you have less ability to recognise risks, which means even an experienced farmer doing a job they’ve done many times before can put themselves, or others, in danger.
"We all appreciate that agriculture is a high-risk industry, but that doesn’t mean deaths and serious injuries on farms should be seen as just part of the job.”
WorkSafe data shows March and November are peak months for fatalities in agriculture, corresponding with sowing and harvest seasons.
The operation and maintenance of vehicles and heavy machinery make up about 80% of workplace fatalities in agriculture.
As harvest approaches, WorkSafe is reminding farmers that "It’s never you, until it is." The campaign provides practical support to farmers to improve farm safety and raises awareness of how to recognise and prevent fatigue.
“People often find it difficult to recognise the signs of fatigue and push through the symptoms that are telling them they need to take a break,” Mr Jenkin said.
“The pressure of peak periods can make you feel as through working through the night or without taking a break is unavoidable, but the reality is that working while fatigued reduces performance and productivity and greatly increases the chances of something going wrong.
"Providing a safe working environment for yourself, your family and your workers, which includes managing the risks of fatigue, is the best way to maintain an efficient and productive business.”
Jack Armstrong, a sheep and cropping farmer south-east of Ararat, said fatigue among farmers was extremely common. He encouraged farmers and farm workers to talk about fatigue to stay safe.
“Whenever I feel I’m fatigued, my decision-making is impaired and so is my reaction time. That just increases the risk for mistakes to happen,” Mr Armstrong said.
“Communication is really key in combating fatigue – checking in with each other, letting each other know how we are feeling, how much more we want to do, and when we want to knock off.
"I try and get so many hectares done each day and set a time limit so we don’t get too fatigued."
Mr Armstrong hires additional workers during busy periods and said ensuring everyone understands the signs of fatigue and looks out for each other is vital for a safe working environment.
“We’ve really got each other’s back. The communication is really good so we know if we’re feeling fatigued or not. I think a lot of farmers can have the misconception that if they work really hard and long hours, they’ll get more done, when you sort of end up burning the candle at both ends.”
WorkSafe has practical resources to help farmers recognise fatigue and stay safe. Signs of fatigue include: slower reaction times, poor concentration, making mistakes, poor coordination, irritability, lack of energy, frequent colds, headaches, dizziness and nodding off or micro-sleeps.
Tips to avoid fatigue include: doing simple stretches, rotating tasks, increasing how much water you drink, and taking breaks where possible. Rostering rest days to ensure people can catch up on sleep, encouraging workers to eat a healthy diet, taking rest breaks by stopping for lunch in the paddock and having a chat also help manage fatigue.
If a colleague complains about not getting enough sleep, suggest they see their GP and roster extra rest periods where possible. For farmers working alone, safety experts recommend ensuring you take regular breaks, staying in touch with family and friends and eating well. Staying hydrated and, once work is finished for the day, giving yourself adequate time to wind down and sleep are also important.