What we're doing

WorkSafe is developing draft content for two approved codes of practice (ACOPs) in agriculture.

ACOPs are a recognised, practical way for businesses and workers to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) and its regulations. They set out what good looks like in practice, without introducing new legal duties.

The draft ACOPs cover:

  • safe farm vehicle operation, and
  • roles and responsibilities in agriculture.

They draw on real-world farming examples, from fencing and silage making to managing farm visitors and school trips, to show how health and safety duties apply in everyday situations. They do not require people to do anything beyond what HSWA already expects.

The drafts have been developed with the sector to reflect how farms operate day to day. They are working drafts, and feedback from farmers, workers, contractors, and others involved in agriculture is critical to testing whether the guidance makes sense, is clear, and works in real-life farm situations.

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Outcomes we’re aiming for

These ACOPs aim to make it easier for businesses to:

  • reduce preventable harm by clarifying roles, responsibilities, and expected practices for everyday scenarios
  • have some certainty about what good looks like under HSWA
  • support safer, more confident decision making in this high-risk sector.

This reflects the strategic direction set out in WorkSafe’s 2025–2029 Statement of Intent, with a strong focus on education and engagement. 

Draft ACOP for roles and responsibilities in agriculture

What this ACOP covers

This draft ACOP focuses on situations where two or more people or businesses have health and safety responsibilities for the same work. This includes shared work arrangements involving farmers, contractors, and workers.

It:

  • clarifies how existing HSWA duties apply in agricultural settings
  • explains that while tasks can be delegated, legal duties cannot
  • makes clear that responsibility depends on who has influence and control over the work, the workplace, or the equipment at the time
  • uses practical examples of common farm scenarios

The focus is on practical conversations before work starts, shared understanding of the plan, and the ability to pause and reset if conditions or risks change.

Out of scope

  • Purely domestic or recreational activities unrelated to farm (or other) work.

Why we’re developing this ACOP

Agriculture remains a high-risk sector, with persistently high rates of serious injury and fatalities, particularly in dairy, sheep, and beef farming. Work often takes place in variable environments, involves mixed tasks, and includes multiple businesses working together.

Feedback from the sector has consistently highlighted uncertainty about how health and safety duties apply in shared work arrangements. Following strong support through the Minister’s 2024 public consultation and WorkSafe’s industry survey, the Minister confirmed the development of this ACOP to provide clearer, farm-specific guidance.

Approved code of practice for safe farm vehicle operation

What this ACOP covers

Farm vehicles and attached machinery are a leading cause of serious harm in agriculture. This draft ACOP sets a clear, practical standard for safe vehicle use on farms.

It focuses on:

  • choosing the right vehicle for the job and terrain
  • reassessing risks when conditions change, such as weather, terrain, or fatigue
  • managing work-related health risks like fatigue, heat, cold, noise, and vibration, not just vehicle rollovers
  • safe operation and maintenance of high-risk vehicles and attached machinery
  • managing risks when children are present around vehicles and machinery.

Vehicles in scope include quad bikes, side-by-sides, two-wheel motorbikes, utes, four-wheel drives, tractors, and attached machinery that affects stability or function.

Out of scope

This draft ACOP does not cover:

  • domestic or recreational activities unrelated to farm work
  • horticulture-specific vehicle or machinery guidance
  • farm buildings, yards, livestock handling areas, or other non-mobile equipment
  • mobile plant used in non-agriculture industries (for example, excavators, bulldozers, cranes).

Children on farms

Both draft ACOPs provide clearer guidance about children on farms, helping distinguish between farm work and home life.

The drafts focus on:

  • supervision
  • separating children from serious hazards
  • planning work to manage risks when children are present
  • clarifying what children under 15 can and cannot do around vehicles and machinery.

The intent is to improve safety while recognising family farming and avoiding unnecessary exclusion of children from farm life.

What is an ACOP?

An approved code of practice:

  • sets out standards for how duty holders can comply with HSWA and its regulations
  • can be used as evidence of whether a duty or obligation has been met
  • must be approved by the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety
  • must be developed with consultation.

Although an ACOP isn’t mandatory to follow, it sets a standard for compliance with work health and safety duties. Businesses can meet their duties in another way if it is equal to or better than the standard set out in the ACOP. 

How we're developing the ACOPs

A collaborative approach

To ensure these ACOPs reflect the practical realities of the industry, we have engaged with a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including farmers, rural contractors, farm workers, and key agricultural bodies. Their input through workshops and testing has helped shape the draft guidance.

Can I join one of these groups?

We appreciate the strong interest from people wanting to be involved. As the draft is now at an advanced stage, public consultation is the most effective and inclusive way to review and influence the draft ACOPs.

We encourage anyone with a stake in agriculture to make a submission during the consultation period.

Background

  • The draft ACOP aligns with the Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill currently before a parliamentary select committee. WorkSafe is ensuring the draft remains consistent with any legislative changes.
  • If the Bill is passed as proposed, following an ACOP would provide a form of legal protection known as safe harbour. This means a business that complies with the ACOP would be treated as having met the relevant legal duty.

What happens next?

The first public consultation will be followed by further consultation on an updated draft. A finalised version will be provided to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, who will decide whether to approve the ACOPs.

We are working towards providing the finalised draft to the Minister in mid-2026. 

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