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I would like to know about specific duties that may apply to the agriculture industry under the model WHS laws.
Depending on the type of work being done, a range of specific duties may apply under WHS laws. As a worker, you have a duty to take reasonable care of your safety and that of others in the workplace.
To understand what specific duties may apply, consider the type of work you are doing and check for relevant regulations, guidance and information. Specific duties may also vary depending on which state or territory you live in. You should contact the WHS regulator in your state or territory for more information on the relevant WHS laws.
In the agriculture industry, common types of work that have specific duties under the model WHS laws include:
- Hazardous manual tasks, such as lifting heavy objects, or doing repetitive tasks such as fruit picking
- Operating, maintaining or inspecting plant or equipment, including quad bikes
- Using chemicals such as agricultural pesticides
- Managing noise
- Working around dust
- Slips, trips and falls
- Working at heights
- Working in or around confined spaces, such as grain silos
- Working outdoors, in hot conditions or when exposed to ultraviolet radiation
- Work impacting a person’s mental health
- Working with electricity.
More detail on the specific duties that may apply is provided on each of the pages above.
For information on general duties that apply regardless of the type of work being done, visit the general duties page.
