We have found that OSHA looks favorably on farms that have a safety plan. It is often the first item they ask for in the event they audit or investigate your farm. Farms that have a safety plan, even an incomplete plan, are better off than those with no plan at all.
Many farms don’t know where to start. The best way to start is to first discover where you are today. We created this Dairy Safety Checklist to help you determine your farm’s safety strengths and weaknesses.
Although this is not meant to be an all-inclusive OSHA list, it will help you focus your efforts when you create your own plan. Once you identify the strong and weak areas, you can develop a personalized plan that fits your farm.
But creating a plan is only the beginning. Once designed, implementation and training are key to making your business safe for you, your family and your employees. It’s common to get stuck, so feel free to use available resources, OSHA’s website or drop us a line if you have a question.
Follow these steps using the dairy facilities site safety inspection checklist on this page.
Step 1 Perform a walkaround inspection and rate these safety red flags. This list isn’t all-inclusive, so feel free to include additional items that are not on the list.
Step 2 Tabulate to determine your overall safety rating.
Step 3 Look for recurring themes in your safety readiness and build a plan that addresses the weak areas.
Step 4 Prioritize and tackle the areas that are weakest or could have a large negative impact if an accident should occur. No farm will ever be perfect, so understand this is a work in progress. If you get stuck, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
Remember, you have a duty to protect the members of your team, and OSHA often focuses on dairies. Implementing a safety and training program can reduce injuries, save your business money and improve employee morale. Most importantly, it ensures everyone gets home to their families. We can all feel good about that.
To assess all areas of the dairy in a downloadable PDF, go to Dairy site safety inspection where you will find the complete Dairy Site Safety Inspection form. 
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Liz Griffith
- Market Development
- Encore Consultants
- Email Liz Griffith
