5 Essential Tips for Bushfire Preparedness in Agriculture

Key information for rural and equine workplaces

1) Plan for uncertainty: don’t wait for a “confirmed” warning

In high-risk industries, bushfire readiness is a “prepare first” activity. If you wait for full detail from news reports or third-party summaries, you may lose critical time.

In real terms, this means:

• Set clear “trigger points” for action (e.g., increasing wind, nearby smoke, fire activity in the broader district, extreme heat days).
• Assume communications may be disrupted and roads may be closed with limited notice.
• Build plans that work even when the information you have is incomplete.

A practical approach is to treat bushfire preparedness like any other high-consequence hazard: identify what could go wrong, decide what you will do if it does, and practise those steps.

2) Smoke, heat and fatigue are WHS risks—before flames arrive

Even if fire is not on your property, smoke and heat can create immediate WHS risks in agriculture and equine operations.

Common impacts include:

• Reduced visibility for vehicles, bikes, plant and machinery
• Respiratory irritation for workers and riders, and reduced capacity to perform physical work
• Heat stress during mustering, fencing, feeding, stable work and fire preparation activities
• Fatigue from extended shifts, night work and emergency preparations

Practical controls:

• Modify work: reschedule strenuous tasks, reduce workload, increase rest breaks, rotate staff
• Increase hydration and shade access; check workers regularly, especially new or young workers
• Review fit-for-work (fatigue, stress, heat exposure) and ensure supervision is maintained during high-pressure periods
• Adjust traffic management and vehicle speed limits when visibility is reduced

3) Animals change the risk profile (and the time pressures)

Equine and livestock operations face a unique challenge: the urgency to move animals can push people into high-risk decisions—rushing, towing under stress, handling frightened animals, or moving stock in poor visibility.

Key risk points for farms, studs and stables:

• Handling and loading: increased kicks, crush injuries, falls, rope injuries
• Transport: towing floats/stock trailers in smoke, traffic or changing conditions
• Crowding at yards, loading ramps, laneways and gates
• Visitors/clients arriving to “help” without coordination

Practical controls:

• Pre-identify where animals will go and how they will be transported (including who is authorised to make that call)
• Prepare transport early: service vehicles, ensure trailers are roadworthy, check hitches, tyres, brakes and lights
• Maintain a current list of animals on site, owners/contacts, and handling notes (temperament, medical needs)
• Keep handling equipment ready and in good condition (headcollars, leads, panels)
• Limit unplanned “helpers”: control site access and use a clear check-in process during elevated risk periods

4) Machinery, hot work and fire preparation tasks can create ignition risks

Agricultural work often includes equipment and activities that can start fires—especially during hot, dry and windy conditions.

Higher-risk activities can include:

• Welding, grinding, cutting and other hot work
• Slashing, harvesting, use of chainsaws and plant
• Vehicle use in dry grass and paddocks
• Generators, pumps and electrical equipment operating for long periods

Practical controls:

• Review when and where hot work is allowed and what precautions apply
• Keep firefighting equipment maintained and accessible (and ensure workers know how to use it)
• Stop or postpone non-essential ignition-risk tasks during high-risk conditions
• Ensure housekeeping: manage grass, leaf litter, rubbish and flammable storage around buildings, sheds and stables

5) Emergency response needs structure: roles, communication, and rehearsals

During a bushfire threat, confusion creates risk. A short, clear plan that workers understand is often more effective than a long document no one can follow in a crisis.

Your bushfire response arrangements should cover:

• Roles and decision-making: who monitors conditions, who directs evacuation, who manages animals, who checks people are accounted for
• Communication: how you’ll contact workers, contractors and clients; what happens if mobile coverage drops
• Evacuation and shelter: where people go, how they get there, and what “leave early” looks like on your site
• Visitors and contractors: induction expectations in bushfire season, muster points, sign-in/sign-out processes

Rehearse the plan. Even a short walk-through can expose gaps like locked gates, poor signage, missing headcounts, or unclear float/stock-trailer allocation.

What this means for employers & workers

For employers, managers and supervisors

Bushfire readiness should be treated as a core WHS risk management activity, not an “extra” task. Given that reliable detail may not always be available from every public source, workplaces should focus on what they can control.

Key actions to review and update:

• A current bushfire/emergency plan that fits your actual property layout and operations
• Clear trigger points for stopping work, relocating animals, or evacuating
• Worker and contractor inductions that include bushfire procedures and emergency communications
• Pre-season checks of equipment, access roads, gates, water supply, pumps and firefighting gear
• Systems to manage fatigue, heat stress, smoke exposure and mental strain during prolonged events

For workers

Workers play a critical role in early identification of hazards and safe decision-making under pressure.

Practical expectations:

• Follow site instructions on high-risk days and report hazards early (smoke, visibility, access issues, equipment faults)
• Don’t improvise tasks that increase ignition risk or place you in danger
• Use agreed communication channels and confirm you’re accounted for during changing conditions
• Raise concerns if you feel unsafe, fatigued, or unclear about your role

How Safe Industries Australia can help

Safe Industries Australia supports agricultural and equine workplaces to strengthen practical Health & Safety systems for high-consequence risks such as bushfire conditions. This can include WHS/OHS consulting, site-specific risk assessments, development or review of Safe Work Procedures, and delivery of training and inductions so workers and contractors understand what to do before and during elevated risk periods.

Bushfire conditions create fast-moving and high-impact risks for rural workplaces, especially where animals, machinery and remote locations are involved. When public information is limited or inconsistent, strong WHS/OHS planning becomes even more important: clarify triggers, tighten procedures, prepare equipment, and practise the plan with your team. Proactive safety management helps protect people, animals, and the continuity of your operation when conditions change with little warning.