Frequently Asked Questions

The FarmSafe Programmes

WHO CAN APPLY FOR AN ACC WORKPLACE SAFETY DISCOUNT?

If you are a self employed farmer/grower, you employ staff, or you are the person responsible for the employer’s health and safety management practices, you can apply for the discount if:
• You have up to $500,000 per annum in payroll or are employing 10 or less full-time (or full-time equivalent) staff; and
• Your work falls within the specified ACC classification units in the agriculture sector; or
• You have attended a relevant training workshop (i.e. FarmSafe Plans); or
• You can show relevant experience and capability in managing health and safety practices for at least 12 months; and
• You agree to a possible on-site audit of your health and safety systems by ACC approved auditors.

WHO ARE THE FARMSAFE PROGRAMMES AIMED AT?

FarmSafe programmes are tailored specifically to agriculture and horticultural sectors. They make no distinction for age or experience in the industry and are relevant to all New Zealand pastoral and horticulture farm owners, managers, staff and family members.

IS THERE A COST?

Please phone 0800 545 747 for further information.
ARE THERE ACC REBATES AND IF SO, WHEN AND WHAT COURSES DO I NEED TO DO?

ACC introduced the ACC Workplace Safety Discount Scheme. This provides levy payers with less than 10 staff or less than $500,000 in liable earnings, with a 10% discount on the work component of their ACC levy for farm employers and self employed who can show sound health and safety practices. In most cases this will involve attending a training workshop.

HOW MUCH TIME DO THE PROGRAMMES TAKE?

FarmSafe Awareness and FarmSafe Plans are one-day workshops.
FarmSafe Skills workshops are held over two days, some weeks apart, except for Agrichemicals/Approved Handler which is a one-day workshop.
IS THERE EXTRA WORK I HAVE TO COMPLETE AT HOME?

Aside from putting what you have learnt into practice at home, there is no additional work required at home to receive your certificate.

WHY SHOULD I ATTEND THE FARMSAFE PROGRAMMES?

Every day, 11 farmers or growers are seriously injured, and, on average one farmer or grower is killed every two to three weeks. Workplace accidents can cost a business in all sorts of ways – reduced productivity and profitability and the stress that is placed on families and the wider community. And, on top of that, there are the significant national costs.

I’M VERY EXPERIENCED – WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME I DON’T ALREADY KNOW?

Age and experience are no protection from serious injury and even death on the farm. In fact, the risk of injury increases with age and experience, rather than decreases. Feedback from participants shows that everyone, young mature, inexperienced or experienced, takes something away from the programmes. ACC commissioned research in 2005 found that, overall, 80% of participants said FarmSafe helped them improve or look at their farm safety practices differently. The programmes are interactive and a key feature is the sharing of ideas and experiences. Even for the most experienced farmer, there is always something to learn.

I’VE BEEN FARMING FOR OVER 30 YEARS, SO I KNOW I’M OKAY – I’LL JUST SEND MY STAFF ALONG …

Age and experience are no protection from serious injury and even death on the farm. In fact the risk of injury increases with age and experience, rather than decreases. In the year ending June 2005, the 40-50 age group recorded the highest number of ACC claims 293 amounting to $1.787 million. Feedback from participants shows that everyone, young or mature, inexperienced or experienced, takes something valuable away from the programmes. It is important to lead from the front when it comes to turning around the alarming rural fatality and injury statistics. Your staff need to see that you take health and safety seriously.

WHAT ARE THE THREE FARMSAFE PROGRAMMES?

FarmSafe is made up of three programmes each fousing on a different area of rural property safety. Although they can be attended in any order, the programmes have been designed to follow on from each other.

A one-day introductory programme FarmSafe Awareness is the first step of a 3-pronged approach to safety, designed to heighten awareness of injury prevention. FarmSafe Plans is the second step which focuses on the development of a health and safety plan for the participant’s property and FarmSafe Skills is the third step. The programme is a series of interactive workshops which focus on practical skills such as ATV riding, chainsaw operation, driving tractors, riding motorbikes and agrichemical use. The FarmSafe Skills Agrichemical Approved Handler workshop is designed for farmers and growers who store and use agrichemicals. Participants who successfully complete this workshop will gain a Agrichemical Approved Handler certification to comply with HSNO requirements (from 1 January 2007). The Awareness workshop forms the core training of the 40 credit qualification.