Latest news, updates and innovations in agricultural safety
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Recent safety alerts highlight serious incidents involving forklifts and other mobile vehicles, including roll-away accidents and collisions with pedestrians. We've outlined a few practical steps to help keep your site and workers safe.
Several significant regulatory changes have been introduced in recent months, impacting various aspects of workplace safety and compliance.
Whilst most of these sit outside of the scope of Agsafe Industry Standard, below is a list of information that your business may need to consider and seek further guidance from the regulator or an external reliable consultant.
bagMUSTER is set to expand across Victoria, with a pathway to national rollout, following the announcement of a project to develop new onshore recycling infrastructure that will support the collection and recycling of tens of thousands of agricultural bulk bags each year.
Agsafe has scheduled a ChemClear collection in South Australia, giving farmers and agribusinesses the chance to safely dispose of unwanted or obsolete AgVet chemicals. Registrations are open until 31 March 2026. By registering, participants will be included in this collection, helping reduce on-farm risks and ensuring chemicals are managed responsibly.
bagMUSTER has successfully diverted nearly 25 tonnes of agricultural plastic packaging from landfill through two recent fee-for-service collections in Melbourne. The initiative highlights the program’s commitment to providing partners with reliable, large-scale recycling solutions that reduce waste and support a more sustainable future for Australian agriculture.
If you’ve got unwanted or outdated AgVet chemicals sitting in the shed, now’s your chance to clear them out safely. Agsafe is running a ChemClear collection in Western Australia to help farmers and agribusinesses get rid of chemicals they no longer need — the right way. Register your chemicals by 31 January 2026 to be included in the upcoming collection. It’s a simple way to tidy up the farm, stay safe, and do the right thing by your land.
Agsafe is pleased to announce a ChemClear collection event in Queensland, providing agricultural producers and businesses the opportunity to safely and responsibly dispose of unwanted or obsolete agricultural chemicals. The deadline for chemical registrations is Friday, 12 September 2025, and we encourage all Queensland producers and agricultural businesses to register and take advantage of this opportunity — ensuring a safer, cleaner farm environment for everyone.
Australia’s first not-for-profit, industry-led stewardship program dedicated to the collection and recycling of agricultural plastic bags—bagMUSTER—is expanding, and the call to action is clear. Now is the perfect time for suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, and importers to join this important initiative and become leaders in agricultural sustainability.
Australia’s first industry-led collection and recycling program for soft plastic agricultural input bags, bagMUSTER, was officially launched today in Ballarat, marking a significant step towards sustainability in Australian agriculture. The event brought together key industry leaders, government representatives, and media to celebrate the program’s commencement and its potential to transform agricultural plastic waste management.
Work Safe Victoria has amended Table 1 of Schedule 14 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 to include Paraquat products, increasing the threshold quantities before a premises is classified as a Major Hazard Facility. Previously, Paraquat was listed under Schedule 14, Table 2, with a 20-tonne threshold. The updated classification raises the limits to 80 tonnes for concentrations of 10% or more and 200 tonnes for lower concentrations.
The agricultural industry is making a significant stride toward sustainability with the opening of the first bagMUSTER collection sites. This pioneering, not-for-profit, industry-led program addresses plastic waste from single-use woven polypropylene (PP) bags. The program’s first phase is live in Western Victoria, with collection sites in Kyneton, Romsey, and Woodend. Farmers can drop off eligible bags, such as those used for fertilisers and stock feed.
The agricultural sector is a vital part of Australia’s economy, but with its growth comes an increase in plastic waste, particularly from single-use agricultural bags. Addressing this issue is the driving force behind bagMUSTER, a program designed to remove plastic bag waste on farms, guiding the industry towards more sustainable practices.
Agsafe is pleased to announce a ChemClear collection event in Victoria, providing agricultural producers and businesses the opportunity to safely and responsibly dispose of unwanted or obsolete agricultural chemicals. The deadline for chemical registrations is Friday, 31 January 2025.
In a critical update for the agricultural industry, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has cancelled the registration of all products containing dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA, also known as Dacthal), effective immediately. All uses of DCPA are now banned, and it is now illegal to use the product. Retailers and farmers are urged to stop selling or using the chemical immediately and ensure its safe disposal.
On Wednesday, 31 July 2024, Agsafe announced a major advancement for the drumMUSTER program at a highly anticipated launch event. This pioneering initiative, in partnership with Pact Group, represents an Australian first in the recycling of used chemical drums into new ones.