'It can happen to any of us': Brokenshire urges farmers to stay safe
SADA president Robert Brokenshire is urging farmers to reflect on near misses during Farm Safety Week. File picture
Even decades of experience on the land doesn't make you immune to accidents - a truth South Australian Dairyfarmers' Association president Robert Brokenshire knows all too well.
During Farm Safety Week, Mr Brokenshire shared his recent brush with danger while working on his family's property near Mt Compass - a reminder, he says, that "you're never too old to get hurt".
"It was silage time. We were going late the night before and needed to be up early after milking," he said.
"We had heifers calving, and I jumped on the two-wheeler bike to head them off - something I've done thousands of times.
"But someone had tied a rope across the track, and I didn't see it until the last second."
He said he was lucky because he hit the ground forehead-first when he came off the bike instead of a fatal impact.
"Seven stitches later, I was back on the job by the afternoon, probably not the smartest move, but that's what happens when you need everyone working," he said.
Mr Brokenshire said the incident catalysed change on his farm.
Ropes are immediately removed when no longer needed, and staff are reminded to choose side-by-sides over motorbikes wherever possible.
"If I'd been on the side-by-side, I would've broken the rope - not my head," he said.
"We've moved away from quad bikes entirely.
"But two-wheelers are just as bad."
Now, every new worker receives an on-farm induction focused on two key pillars, personal safety and animal welfare.
The property also uses a dedicated Facebook Messenger group - a 'farm page' - where team members log hazards, photos and updates in real time.
"If someone spots a tree down across a track, they post a picture and a note on the farm page.
"It's instant and everyone gets the notification.
"It's one of the best safety tools we've implemented."
SADA urges all farmers to reflect on the "near misses" daily across the dairy industry - especially those caused by fatigue, routine, pressure and multitasking.
This year's theme, 'Second Chances - Who Knows How Many You'll Get?', calls on farmers to stop, share and learn from close calls before they become something worse.
"Dairy farmers are among the hardest working people in agriculture," Mr Brokenshire said.
"But even for experienced operators, fatigue, pressure, and familiarity can lead to serious accidents.
"We must acknowledge those 'that was close' moments and turn them into a plan to improve things."
The week includes daily focus areas such as fatigue, mental health, communication, and juggling childcare with on-farm responsibilities.
SADA encourages farmers to start safety conversations during milking or meals, share a story of a near miss and what changed afterwards, and introduce one new check or procedure, no matter how small.
For Mr Brokenshire, Farm Safety Week is now a time to take stock of what's working and needs adjusting.
"It's a week to revisit everything," he said.
"Every farmer, no matter how experienced, should stop and look around - because complacency gets you.
"Staff and family safety has to be number one.
"You can't just assume that because you've done something a thousand times, you'll get away with it again."