It was after a near-miss at the family farm in Arthurton, South Australia, that the idea behind Safe Ag Systems came about. The software is currently used by over 1,000 agribusinesses to remove the paperwork associated with compliance, and make it easier to embed a safe working culture into the business.
New free interactive risk assessment tool
Safe Ag Systems launched its safety app in the UK in late 2020 and co-founder Katy Landt will be talking at the event ‘Improving Farm Safety‘ in May, about the latest project to deliver a free interactive Risk Assessment Tool that will support any agribusiness in completing a risk assessment.
Safe Ag Systems simplifies compliance to health and safety regulations. It is a software tool on both desktop and mobile that is used to gain efficiencies within the operational side of business. Currently over 8,000 users utilise the tool to captured records across employment, machinery maintenance, company policy and any type of procedure. This data is then used to evidence compliance. The product is also a great tool to educate workers, capture chemical or fuel usage, report hazards and alert anyone in an emergency.
Katy says that data tells us the greatest risk on farm comes from machinery, working at heights or with livestock. It is also most likely to occur to the 60+ demographic and the new workforce that is untrained.
She says: “Agriculture has some of the highest risks of any industry when it comes to health and safety. Fatigue and working alone, in remote or isolated areas, where it’s hard to get help quickly if you need it, is also a huge contributor to our statistics.
“The reality is we can’t prevent or eliminate all of these risks, but what we can do is reduce them.
“This can be through things like guards and training for equipment and machinery, recording maintenance to ensure nothing is missed, training and easily accessible PPE for everyone.
“The easiest step is to create a simple checklist.”
Benefits of the Safe Ag Systems app
The company originates from Australia, but engages a go-to market strategy through advocates based locally. The selected organisations are currently operating successful farm management services and will expand this offering to include safety and compliance.
Agribusinesses will be able to come to Safe Farm Ag directly or to outsource the setup and management to these advocates.
Benefits of the app include:
- Less down time from faulty equipment or injuries
- Less insurance claims – so lower premiums
- Time saving as records are updated as you work, information is readily accessible for audits
- Staff management, employment records, easy inductions and work allocation.
- Simple ‘Safety Rating’ to monitor H&S performance
Connected approach to compliance
In Agriculture, compliance covers a range of subjects from health and safety through to traceability, sustainability and food safety.
Katy says that the aim is that Safe Ag Systems will become a ‘bucket’ for record keeping. As every audit process requires a separate exchange of data, one set of maintained records can address multiple sets of criteria.
The company is continuing to innovate and its focus has expanded with the development of a smart auditor. This tool will connect real-time evidence directly into an audit assessment form such as Red Tractor or Global Gap.
Katy explains: “If safety is tied into an operational tool on-farm – utilised by everyone – it can then provide evidence of behavioural change and also of good practice toward food safety, fair employment and sustainability. Our product is now helping thousands of businesses gain certifications easily.
“We are excited to say we are also developing a free interactive Risk Assessment Tool that will support any business in completing a risk assessment. We will address two types of risk assessments, Machinery and Equipment, and a General Risk assessment.
“Due to launch in June 2021, we are designing the Safe Ag Systems Risk Assessment tool to utilise likelihood and consequence as specified in ISO31000.”
Agri-TechE event: Improving Farm Safety with Innovative Agri-Tech
Katy Landt, CEO, Safe Ag Systems will be joining Ben Turner, Director, Ben Burgess, Elizabeth Creed, CEO, Farm 365 Ltd, Ben Sturgess, Founder and CEO, Pathfindr and Stuart McClimont, Technical and Standards Director, Agricultural Engineers Association for the Agri-TechE event: “Improving Farm Safety With Innovative Agri-Tech” on Monday 24th May @ 2:00 pm – 4:00pm.
