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Creating a Farm Safety Plan From Scratch

A farm safety plan can seem like a big job, but it starts with a few simple steps. This guide shows how to begin with what you have and build over time.

Why write a plan at all?

A written plan turns good intentions into shared expectations. It records who does what, how hazards are handled and what happens in an emergency. It helps new workers and family members understand the rules and gives you something to improve each year.

The plan does not have to be long or fancy. A few clear pages that people actually use beat a thick binder that sits on a shelf.

Many farms start after a close call. You do not have to wait for one; a plan written on a calm day is easier to follow on a bad one.

• Everyone knows who does what.
• New workers learn the rules quickly.
• You have something to improve each year.

Where do you begin?

Start by listing the jobs done on the farm, the equipment and buildings, and the people who live, work and visit. Walk the property and note anything that could hurt someone. Use an existing farm safety checklist from a source such as extension to make sure you do not miss areas.

Invite family members and workers to help. They know where the tricky spots are and are more likely to follow a plan they helped create.

Take your time. A first pass can be rough, and you can fill gaps as you learn. What matters is that you start and that the result is shared.

• Jobs and seasons.
• Equipment and buildings.
• People, including children and visitors.
• Hazards you have noticed or heard about.

How do you sort the hazards?

For each hazard, ask how likely it is and how serious harm could be. Start with the hazards that could cause the worst harm or that happen most often. Other guides on this site cover risk assessment in more detail.

Do not try to fix everything at once. Pick a handful of priorities and set a plan to deal with them.

Revisit priorities as conditions change. A hazard that was minor last year may grow with a new tool, a new worker or a new use of the land.

What goes in the plan?

Include the farm address and directions for responders, emergency contacts, a list of hazards and the controls for each, rules for children and visitors, training requirements and who is responsible for each task. Add a simple schedule for inspections and reviews.

Where specifics are needed, such as equipment procedures or exposure limits, point to the manufacturer manual and official sources such as OSHA and NIOSH rather than writing from memory.

Use plain language and short sentences. If a worker cannot understand the plan, it will not protect them, so provide translations if needed.

• Farm address and directions for responders.
• Emergency contacts and who calls 911.
• Hazards and the controls for each.
• Rules for children and visitors.
• Training requirements and inspection schedule.

How do you put the plan into practice?

Share the plan in a short meeting. Walk through the rules, show the emergency information and give each person a part. Make copies available in the house, shop and vehicles.

Provide training on the hazards that matter most. Arrange first aid and CPR courses and ask extension or other providers about hands-on programs.

Ask each worker to repeat back the key rules in their own words. It is a quick way to check understanding without making anyone feel tested.

How do you keep it alive?

Review the plan at least once a year and after any incident, near miss or change on the farm. Add a note of what you learned. Keep the tone positive so that people feel safe speaking up.

Celebrate progress. Each repaired guard, each completed course and each improved habit is a step forward.

Put the review date in the calendar now, while you are writing the plan, so that it does not depend on remembering later.

• Review after any incident or near miss.
• Review after any big change on the farm.
• Keep the tone positive so people speak up.

Where can you find help?

Your county extension office, the NIOSH agriculture program, OSHA and farm safety organizations publish planning guides and checklists. Your insurer may also offer advice. Rules and programs vary by state, so confirm what applies to you.

Start now with a single page and improve it. A simple plan in use is better than a perfect one that is never finished.

Keep a single folder, paper or digital, where the plan, checklists and inspection records live together so that they are easy to find.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.