OHS Compliance for Farms

Description

Course Overview

Course 1 of the SIZA-Aligned Farm OHS & Occupational Hygiene Training Series.

Build a safer, more compliant agricultural workplace with our OHS Compliance for Farms course, designed to help South African farming operations understand and implement their occupational health and safety responsibilities.

Offered by SA Farming College, this practical course explores the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993) and their relationship with the SIZA Social Standard.

Designed specifically for the agricultural industry, the training equips farm owners, managers, supervisors and health and safety personnel with practical knowledge of workplace risk assessments, legal responsibilities, safety inspections and compliance documentation.

Rather than focusing on legislation alone, the course demonstrates how to translate health and safety requirements into effective workplace procedures, preventative measures and continuous improvement initiatives.

Course Highlights

• Practical, agriculture-focused occupational health and safety training
• SIZA-aligned compliance guidance
• Real-world farming examples and applications
• Farm-specific hazard identification and risk assessment
• Online video lessons and knowledge assessment
• Self-paced learning through SA Farming College

What You Will Learn

Upon completion of this course, learners should be able to:

• Understand the fundamental occupational health and safety responsibilities of agricultural employers and employees.
• Explain the relationship between South African OHS legislation and SIZA health and safety requirements.
• Identify the responsibilities of farm management, supervisors and health and safety representatives.
• Recognise common workplace hazards affecting permanent, temporary and seasonal agricultural workers.
• Understand how to conduct a farm-specific Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA).
• Apply the hierarchy of controls to reduce workplace health and safety risks.
• Identify documentation, inspection records and training evidence needed to demonstrate compliance.
• Understand the importance of workplace consultation, incident reporting and corrective actions.
• Develop practical health and safety improvement plans appropriate to agricultural operations.

Course Content

Module 1: Legal Duties and Accountability

Understand the legal responsibilities of agricultural employers and the practical implementation of occupational health and safety requirements.

Topics include:

• Occupational Health and Safety Act responsibilities
• Employer and management accountability
• Health and safety appointments and consultation
• Worker information, instruction and training
• Health and safety representatives and committees
• Understanding the relationship between OHS legislation and SIZA requirements
• Workplace safety responsibilities and recordkeeping

Module 2: Farm Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA)

Learn how to identify, assess and manage health and safety risks specific to agricultural workplaces.

Topics include:

• Identifying hazards across farming operations
• Mechanical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and physical hazards
• Assessing risks affecting workers, contractors and visitors
• Risk evaluation and prioritisation
• Applying the hierarchy of controls
• Developing practical farm-specific risk assessments
• Implementing and reviewing workplace control measures

Module 3: Compliance Evidence, Records and Inspections

Understand how to establish and maintain the documentation and procedures needed to support effective workplace health and safety management.

Topics include:

• Workplace health and safety inspections
• Employee training registers and competency records
• Risk assessment documentation
• Incident reporting and corrective-action records
• Health and safety meeting records
• Compliance evidence and document management
• Workplace improvement planning
• Continuous improvement and management review

Who Should Enrol?

This course is particularly suitable for:

• Farm owners and agricultural business operators
• Farm managers and production managers
• Health and safety representatives
• Farm supervisors and team leaders
• Human resources and compliance personnel
• Individuals responsible for agricultural workplace health and safety

Course Information

• Course Type: Short Course
• Study Mode: Self-Paced Online Learning
• Recommended Duration: 1 Day
• Industry: Agriculture and Farming
• Focus: Occupational Health & Safety and Legal Compliance
• Assessment: Online Knowledge Quiz
• Certificate: SA Farming College Certificate, subject to successful completion requirements
• Applicable Frameworks: South African occupational health and safety legislation and SIZA-aligned health and safety practices

Why Choose This Course?

Agricultural workplaces face unique occupational health and safety challenges, from machinery and chemical exposure to seasonal labour, workplace inspections and legal compliance.

Understanding these challenges is essential for protecting workers, reducing operational risks and establishing effective workplace safety practices.

This course offers a practical, agriculture-focused approach to occupational health and safety management, helping learners recognise hazards, understand legal obligations and implement appropriate preventative measures.

Whether you manage a small farming operation or oversee health and safety responsibilities across a larger agricultural business, this training provides valuable knowledge to support safer working environments.

Take the next step towards a safer, better-managed and more compliant farming operation with SA Farming College.

Important: This course provides educational training aligned with relevant SIZA health and safety principles. It is not an official SIZA qualification, audit or certification and does not replace applicable legislation, professional occupational health and safety assessments or specialist advice.