Identify machinery guarding requirements for tractors, power take-off shafts and implements.
Occupational Health & Safety
Agricultural Health and Safety for Farm Machinery, Livestock and Pesticides
Learn to control the leading causes of farm injury and death, from PTO and machinery guarding to livestock handling and safe pesticide storage and use.
🗓️Duration5 training days
📚Content4 modules · 8 sessions
🎓On completionAccredited attendance certificate
About the programme
Course Overview
Agricultural work causes a disproportionate share of workplace deaths relative to the size of the workforce, and the same few causes repeat every year: unguarded power take-off shafts, livestock handling gone wrong, overturning vehicles and pesticide exposure. This course teaches farm owners, managers and safety advisers how to control these risks with practical, farm-tested measures rather than paperwork that never reaches the yard. Participants cover machinery guarding standards for tractors and implements, safe systems for handling cattle and other livestock including escape routes and crush design, and the competence and storage requirements for pesticide use. The course addresses zoonotic disease risks linked to livestock and slurry handling, confined space dangers in grain stores and slurry pits, and the specific hazards of quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles. Sessions include reviewing a farm's machinery guarding against current condition, assessing a livestock handling system for escape routes and pinch points, and checking a pesticide store against legal requirements. By the end, participants can identify the highest-risk activities on a working farm and put controls in place that fit real seasonal work patterns.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Assess a livestock handling system for escape routes, pinch points and crush design.
Apply safe systems of work for pesticide storage, mixing, application and disposal.
Recognise zoonotic disease risks linked to livestock contact and slurry handling.
Classify confined space hazards in grain stores, slurry pits and silage clamps.
Evaluate quad bike and all-terrain vehicle use against load, terrain and training factors.
Prioritise farm safety improvements against the activities most likely to cause serious harm.
Who Should Attend
Farm owners and managers responsible for day-to-day safety across the holding.
Agricultural health and safety advisers supporting multiple farm businesses.
Farm supervisors overseeing seasonal and contract workers during peak periods.
Agricultural machinery dealers and engineers advising on guarding and maintenance.
Pesticide application operators requiring a structured understanding of safe practice.
Rural insurers and assessors evaluating farm safety management for risk purposes.
Course Modules
Select any module to see its sessions and points.
01Machinery and Vehicle Safety
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Guarding Tractors and Power Take-Off Equipment
- Inspect power take-off shaft guards for condition, fit and secure attachment before use.
- Identify entanglement points on implements that require guarding beyond the manufacturer's default.
- Check tractor rollover protection structures and seatbelt condition before field work begins.
- Isolate machinery power sources before clearing blockages or carrying out adjustments.
Session 2Managing Quad Bikes and Site Vehicles
- Match quad bike and all-terrain vehicle selection to terrain, load and towing requirements.
- Set training and competence requirements before allowing a worker to operate a quad bike.
- Assess helmet use, loading limits and passenger rules against manufacturer guidance.
- Separate vehicle movement routes from pedestrian and visitor areas around the farmyard.
02Livestock Handling and Zoonotic Disease
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Designing Safe Livestock Handling Systems
- Assess handling pens, crushes and races for escape routes and worker pinch points.
- Plan livestock movement sequences that reduce direct contact with agitated animals.
- Identify additional precautions required when handling bulls or animals with calves at foot.
- Brief temporary and contract workers on the specific handling system before they start.
Session 2Controlling Zoonotic Disease Risk
- Identify zoonotic diseases linked to livestock contact and the tasks that carry the highest risk.
- Apply hygiene controls, including handwashing and protective clothing, after animal contact.
- Manage slurry handling and storage to reduce exposure to harmful gases and pathogens.
- Communicate zoonotic risk to visitors, contractors and family members present on the farm.
03Pesticide Storage, Use and Disposal
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Storing and Handling Pesticides Safely
- Store pesticides in a secure, ventilated facility separated from feed and other chemicals.
- Check container labelling, safety data sheets and stock rotation during routine store checks.
- Assess spill containment and firefighting access for the pesticide storage area.
- Restrict pesticide store access to trained and authorised personnel only.
Session 2Applying and Disposing of Pesticides Competently
- Confirm operator certificates of competence before assigning pesticide application tasks.
- Select personal protective equipment matched to the specific product's safety data sheet.
- Plan buffer zones and re-entry intervals around treated areas near people and livestock.
- Dispose of pesticide containers and residues through the approved route for the product.
04Confined Spaces and Seasonal Risk Management
2 sessions · 8 points
Session 1Managing Grain Store and Slurry Pit Hazards
- Classify grain stores, silage clamps and slurry pits against confined space entry criteria.
- Test atmosphere for oxygen deficiency and harmful gases before any confined space entry.
- Plan engulfment prevention measures for grain handling and flowing grain hazards.
- Assign rescue arrangements before permitting entry into any classified confined space.
Session 2Planning Safety Across the Farming Calendar
- Identify how seasonal peaks such as harvest and lambing change the farm's risk profile.
- Brief seasonal and contract labour on site-specific hazards before their first task.
- Review incidents and near misses each season to target the following year's controls.
- Prioritise capital investment in guarding or handling systems against the highest residual risks.
What the participant receives
4 course modules
A structured syllabus
8 training sessions
across 5 days
32 detailed points
Applied, detailed content
Accredited attendance certificate
On completing the programme
Complete your registration
We will contact you within one business day to confirm.
Ready to start?
Reserve your seat and start building the skill.