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Risk Management

A critical way to protect your farm and your guests is by undertaking a risk assessment, and planning how to reduce or remove potential risks.

This resource (from the USA) will help you identify how to keep guests safe, and prepare for emergencies.

Topics include

  • Fencing (such as to keep children safe from animals)
  • Heavy machinery
  • Water safety
  • Animal safety
  • Food safety
  • Walkways
  • Storage areas
  • Handwashing
  • Traffic and parking
  • Preparations for emergencies

This presentation on managing agritourism safety risks (also from the USA) has practical advice on

  • How to develop a farm safety plan
  • Examples of risks associated with traffic, buildings, children, animals, food, weather, fires, machinery, security, dams and chemicals
  • Communicating risks to guests
  • Waivers
  • Emergency response procedures

Template: Risk management plan 

Agritourism insurance

You will probably need insurance for your agritourism activities that is in addition to your normal farm pack. You may need to look for agritourism insurance through an insurance broker, rather than through your usual farm insurer, as agritourism insurance is different than farm insurance.

To get the best offer from an insurer, provide your broker with a clear outline of what you intend to offer, and your risk management plan, showing all the ways you have reduced risk to guests, such as how you have ensured guests will not wander into your heavy machinery shed. Showing you are managing risk effectively will give an insurance provider confidence to offer you well-priced insurance.

 Biosecurity

Your local Land Services will provide biosecurity advice for your agritourism venture for free.

Biosecurity precautions are part of common sense agricultural management practice. Precautions are necessary because farm visitors may not be aware that they might bring pests and diseases on footwear, clothing, equipment (including day packs and camping equipment), vehicles, and pets.

Start by assessing potential biosecurity risks and developing a flexible and practical plan for your circumstances.

  • When greeting guests, ask if they have recently been on a farm or overseas, and let them know what you would like them to do to support your farm’s biosecurity.
  • Designate visitor routes to prevent random access across your farm. This includes a designated parking area for visitors, and walking and vehicle tracks that avoid contact with manure. The flow of people for animal viewing should only go in one direction.
  • Let visitors know that they can only feed animals with what you provide, and definitely no meat products.
  • Provide a biosecurity hygiene kit.

 

 

 

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