Thread: WorkSafe: hunting on farmland

I'm rebranding to a church, "Bishop Maca 49 Rewinds"

So if you are riding a bike on Doc land on their cycle ways Doc can be taken to court if the hazards aren't maked ,, I don't think so or if the council concrete lane ways are use and someone falls of there bike the council goes to court .

Accidents will happen even over flat land with no hazards .Just another way of taxing people but the injured get nothing

I see Pegasus here in Canterbury closed its walk bridges for a while as it wa "frosty" and as the owber of the bridge under the new laws they could be held liable for someone slipping on the frosty surface....(Press front page) I guess now the locals will hae to take a car when its frosty...

In all of this I cannot see any exemption for "recreational hunting". A farm is a "work place " in its entirety ,not just the buildings .
Sections 19 & 46 seem to be the deciding parts ?????.

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 No 70, Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation

Originally Posted by Tahr

ACC do not administer the Act nor have a role in enforcing it. WorkSafe have those roles, which is a different Ministry.

The reality is, our work safety record is appalling and something had to be done. The catalysts for the change was Pike River. Or should have we just sat on our hands and left things as they were?
Under this new Act directors' and owners can no longer hide themselves behind companies or managers and avoid prosecution or heavy penalties. Unfortunately, because of the "invisibles' " new liability they are pushing an avalanche of silly directives onto CEO's and they in turn are pushing it down the chain. As has been said, its arse covering. I expect that Ryan is caught up in that.

But something had to be done. Some people simply need protecting from themselves, and some need to be protected from harming others'.
The greater majority of accidents are avoidable. Mainly through changed behaviours rather than changing attitudes. A few who have made comments on here are unlikely to change their attitude, but the spectre of the Act over them might change their behaviours.

The current legislation is far from perfect and requires amendments that I think will come, but its sending a wake up call about us having to stop harming people at work. And that's a good thing. Or do you think that the mayhem should be just left to continue?

Workplace fatalities Summary 2013 - 2016 | Worksafe

Ban Quads and people from cutting down trees. Problem solved.

Originally Posted by Tankd

In all of this I cannot see any exemption for "recreational hunting". A farm is a "work place " in its entirety ,not just the buildings .
Sections 19 & 46 seem to be the deciding parts ?????.

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 No 70, Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation

Visitors and events on farms – Safer Farms

It specifically says Farmers are not responsible - stop freaking out and keep going hunting. If a hunter is in your shed and it collapses, then the farmer will likely be liable. Also, if a hunter gets himself run over by a log because you didn't tell him a hauler was operating in the area and hes an absolute idiot, then you are probably liable. Under normal conditions, your pretty safe.

If a farmer decides not to let you on 'hunting' because of "new health and safety laws", there's a fair chance they don't understand the revised legislation. It is something you as a hunter could learn a bit about and offer some assistance, especially if you know the farmer and property well.

We are in the forestry game, running crews where 80% of our work is on or around farming operations. You all would be amazed at the amount of farmers who don't have anything in place, and simply don't think they need to. Many just don't want to know.

Interestingly and generally speaking the younger generation of farmers are very much up with the play and know their responsibilities. It's quite refreshing to arrive on site to meet a farmer who has a hazard register and management system in place waiting for you.

Everyone is still learning the new rules and responsibilities, what actually needs doing on a workplace hasn't changed a hell of a lot - if they were operating with reasonable H&S steps in place they'll be fine. We've been operating a very good H&S system for years and even with the new rules, only small amounts of it has had to change. More regular communication between parties is the biggest change.

However now the liability, responsibilities and penalties for not following legislation are much more serious and clear cut, hence why we are seeing sudden changes and in some cases arms being thrown up in the air by landowners. Many have realized they've been winging it all these years and now if sh*t hits the fan, sweeping it under the carpet is a lot more difficult, many haven't even worked that out! Haha.

Keeping an induction/visitor register is not that hard. Identifying hazards and managing them is not that hard. Having exclusion and no-go zones is easily managed. So is coming up with a list clear cut rules to follow while on the property.

Originally Posted by JoshC

If a farmer decides not to let you on 'hunting' because of "new health and safety laws", there's a fair chance they don't understand the revised legislation. It is something you as a hunter could learn a bit about and offer some assistance, especially if you know the farmer and property well.

We are in the forestry game, running crews where 80% of our work is on or around farming operations. You all would be amazed at the amount of farmers who don't have anything in place, and simply don't think they need to. Many just don't want to know.

Interestingly and generally speaking the younger generation of farmers are very much up with the play and know their responsibilities. It's quite refreshing to arrive on site to meet a farmer who has a hazard register and management system in place waiting for you.

Everyone is still learning the new rules and responsibilities, what actually needs doing on a workplace hasn't changed a hell of a lot - if they were operating with reasonable H&S steps in place they'll be fine. We've been operating a very good H&S system for years and even with the new rules, only small amounts of it has had to change. More regular communication between parties is the biggest change.

However now the liability, responsibilities and penalties for not following legislation are much more serious and clear cut, hence why we are seeing sudden changes and in some cases arms being thrown up in the air by landowners. Many have realized they've been winging it all these years and now if sh*t hits the fan, sweeping it under the carpet is a lot more difficult, many haven't even worked that out! Haha.

Keeping an induction/visitor register is not that hard. Identifying hazards and managing them is not that hard. Having exclusion and no-go zones is easily managed. So is coming up with a list clear cut rules to follow while on the property.

Great post

Originally Posted by JoshC

If a farmer decides not to let you on 'hunting' because of "new health and safety laws", there's a fair chance they don't understand the revised legislation. It is something you as a hunter could learn a bit about and offer some assistance, especially if you know the farmer and property well.

We are in the forestry game, running crews where 80% of our work is on or around farming operations. You all would be amazed at the amount of farmers who don't have anything in place, and simply don't think they need to. Many just don't want to know.

Interestingly and generally speaking the younger generation of farmers are very much up with the play and know their responsibilities. It's quite refreshing to arrive on site to meet a farmer who has a hazard register and management system in place waiting for you.

Everyone is still learning the new rules and responsibilities, what actually needs doing on a workplace hasn't changed a hell of a lot - if they were operating with reasonable H&S steps in place they'll be fine. We've been operating a very good H&S system for years and even with the new rules, only small amounts of it has had to change. More regular communication between parties is the biggest change.

However now the liability, responsibilities and penalties for not following legislation are much more serious and clear cut, hence why we are seeing sudden changes and in some cases arms being thrown up in the air by landowners. Many have realized they've been winging it all these years and now if sh*t hits the fan, sweeping it under the carpet is a lot more difficult, many haven't even worked that out! Haha.

Keeping an induction/visitor register is not that hard. Identifying hazards and managing them is not that hard. Having exclusion and no-go zones is easily managed. So is coming up with a list clear cut rules to follow while on the property.

I shoot on my mates farm. I basically text him and he always says 'sweet as'. I do not want to f things up for him so I am going to have a chat about this. Thanks mate.

Yep, good post @JoshC, sums it up pretty good. Likewise the new legislation has changed very little of what we do with running shooting events but we have introduced a little bit more paper work and a couple of small requirements. All in all doing this has made it easy to ensure clear communication with land owners / managers on properties we deal with.

In fact with the bit of communication that came out of the NZDA National Executive a week or two ago, I'll be helping my local NZDA branch out with H&S practices for range shoots held on a farm.

Originally Posted by MikeB

Attachment 52334

Visitors and events on farms – Safer Farms

It specifically says Farmers are not responsible - stop freaking out and keep going hunting. If a hunter is in your shed and it collapses, then the farmer will likely be liable. Also, if a hunter gets himself run over by a log because you didn't tell him a hauler was operating in the area and hes an absolute idiot, then you are probably liable. Under normal conditions, your pretty safe.

I'm not panicking about anything ,all I want to know is what are the relevant sections .
I can hear the Cocky laughing at me when I say "But I read it on the Internet ".

Originally Posted by Tankd

I'm not panicking about anything ,all I want to know is what are the relevant sections .
I can hear the Cocky laughing at me when I say "But I read it on the Internet ".

I'd print that out and show it to them. It's a work safe and acc website. If you wanted to know the exact section that state exceptions (if there is one) then flick them an email and they'll point them out for ya no doubt.


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Originally Posted by Gillie

Yep, good post @JoshC, sums it up pretty good. Likewise the new legislation has changed very little of what we do with running shooting events but we have introduced a little bit more paper work and a couple of small requirements. All in all doing this has made it easy to ensure clear communication with land owners / managers on properties we deal with.

In fact with the bit of communication that came out of the NZDA National Executive a week or two ago, I'll be helping my local NZDA branch out with H&S practices for range shoots held on a farm.

@Gillie anything in that we could borrow for Tobys shoot. Pretty sure @BRADS and Andrew are sorted but be good to do it right.

Originally Posted by Gibo

@Gillie anything in that we could borrow for Tobys shoot. Pretty sure @BRADS and Andrew are sorted but be good to do it right.

Your a few days behind the eight ball chap move along


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Originally Posted by BRADS

Your a few days behind the eight ball chap move along


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Very good