FATIGUE is one of the most under-recognised safety risks in Australian agriculture and it is costing lives. This is according to Farmsafe Australia, which argues the "just keep going" culture isn't working.
As part of its "Second Chances – Who Knows How Many You'll Get?" campaign for National Farm Safety Week, the organisation turned its attention to fatigue on Monday.
By raising the topic, Farmsafe said it aims to highlight the need for a cultural shift across agricultural businesses.
Whether it's shifting expectations around workload, improving rostering, or planning for pressure seasons ahead of time, it said the campaign urges practical changes that respect both the work and the worker.
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FATIGUE CAN LEAD TO FATAL MISTAKES
Farmsafe chair, Felicity Richards, said fatigue has long been normalised in agriculture.
"We don't think twice about the 18-hour day. We shrug off brain fog, forgetfulness, dropping things or zoning out as just part of the job. But when you're tired, your decision-making suffers. You cut corners. You miss steps. You make mistakes. And in this environment, mistakes can be fatal," Richards said.
After recording the lowest on-farm fatality figure in 2023 (at 32 deaths), Farmsafe's 2025 Safer Farms Report shows the sector recorded 72 fatalities last year - the highest figure in over two decades. Meanwhile, the data indicates severe injuries have remained consistently high for over a decade.
Richards argued fatigue is a critical factor hiding behind many of these events.
"It doesn't always show up in the incident report but ask any farmer, and they'll tell you about the time they nearly rolled a machine, misjudged a gate, forgot a safety step or lost their footing after days of little sleep," she said.
Fatigue is the invisible risk that sneaks up on us because we've trained ourselves to ignore it."
The campaign encourages farmers to reframe fatigue as a safety threat - not a personal weakness, with Farmsafe warning too often the industry views "pushing through exhaustion" as a badge of honour.
"But the truth is, real strength is knowing when to pause," Richards said.
"Backing yourself to rest, or call in help, or wait for daylight, that's a safety decision. Not a vulnerability."
KEY FATIGUE REMINDERS
As part of the campaign, Farmsafe encouraged teams and families to speak more openly about fatigue and warning signs.
Some of the campaign's key fatigue reminders include:
- Make time for the plan, not just the job – a short pre-job check can prevent long-term consequences.
- Don't let deadlines drown out danger – one honest conversation beats one emergency phone call.
- Build in time for safety – schedule backup and build buffer days into pressure periods.
- Call the huddle – a quick check-in can reveal risks someone else might not see.
The campaign also calls for leaders across the agricultural industry to set the tone.
If you manage staff or contractors, your choices matter," Richards said.
"You set the example, not just in how you work, but in how you rest. The way you talk about risk and decision-making shapes what others feel is okay."
Monday's focus on fatigue is part of a broader effort to reframe how the sector thinks about near misses - not as lucky escapes, but as lessons worth learning.
"If you've had a near miss, the most powerful thing you can do is share what you learned. Safely. Thoughtfully. And in a way that helps others avoid making the same mistake," Richards said.
FATIGUE IS MORE THAN FEELING TIRED
SafeWork Australia specifies fatigue is more than feeling tired and drowsy – it is a state of mental and/or physical exhaustion that reduces the ability to work safely and effectively. It says this can happen when someone is overworked, not sleeping right or has had a disruption to their internal body clock.
According to SafeWork Australia, fatigue can be work-related, personal or both, and can also be short term or build up over time. Importantly, it warns fatigue can reduce alertness which may lead to errors and can increase the risk of an incidents or injuries for the fatigued worker and others.
The SleepHealth Foundation builds on these warnings about the dangers of fatigue – saying it impairs people in a similar way as being drunk or on sedative drugs. As covered by Farming Ahead in the article entitled "Avoiding fatigue: how to get enough sleep this seeding," the Foundation says it worsens hand-eye coordination, makes communication harder, reduces problem solving abilities and increases risk taking behaviour, contributing to a higher chance of errors. To make matters worse, it adds the sleepier or more fatigue a person becomes, the less aware they are of their reduced performance.
