Safety Before Speed: Farmers Urged to Break the Fatigue Cycle
By Jeff Gibbs
Australian farmers are being urged to rethink the long-held belief that working longer, pushing harder and ignoring fatigue are signs of dedication, with one New South Wales cotton grower warning the mindset is putting lives at unnecessary risk.
As National Farm Safety Week continues, Griffith cotton producer Gavin Dal Broi is encouraging farmers to challenge the culture that celebrates working through exhaustion, saying the greatest danger on many farms is not the machinery itself, but the pressure people place on themselves to keep going.
Operating a 2,000-hectare cotton enterprise west of Griffith, Mr Dal Broi understands the constant demands of modern farming. Tight planting windows, unpredictable weather, machinery breakdowns and irrigation issues often leave little room for delays, creating enormous pressure to finish jobs quickly.
However, he believes that pressure can lead to poor decisions.
According to Mr Dal Broi, many farmers have traditionally viewed long hours and pushing through fatigue as something to be proud of, but he says there comes a point where slowing down is actually the safest and smartest decision.
He said the temptation to rush is always present, whether it’s speeding to repair machinery kilometres away or leaving a seatbelt off because the next task seems only a minute away. Those seemingly small shortcuts, he warned, can have life-changing consequences.
For many farming families across the Northern Rivers and throughout Australia, the message is particularly relevant as winter work continues and preparations begin for the busy spring season.
Mr Dal Broi said taking extra care during busy periods not only protects lives but can also improve business performance. While many producers worry that slowing down wastes valuable time, he believes rushing often leads to machinery failures, costly repairs and delays that ultimately cost far more than taking a few extra minutes to work safely.
He argues that safe farming practices and profitability go hand in hand, with thoughtful decision-making helping to protect workers, equipment and the long-term success of the business.
This year’s Farmsafe Australia campaign, “Set the Standard: Show ’em how it’s done,” highlights the influence experienced farmers have on the next generation entering the industry.
Farmsafe Australia Chair Felicity Richards said periods of intense workload are when leadership becomes most important.
She said agriculture is filled with pressure points, from weather events and labour shortages to equipment failures, but these are also the moments when workers observe how leaders respond. Choosing to wear a seatbelt, stop when tired, reassess conditions or simply take a break sends a powerful message that safety always comes before speed.
The campaign encourages farmers, contractors and agricultural workers to remember that workplace culture is built by everyday actions, especially during the busiest and most demanding times of the year.
National Farm Safety Week runs from 19 to 25 July 2026, encouraging everyone involved in agriculture to make safer choices, look after one another and recognise that no job is worth risking a life.
For farming communities across the Northern Rivers, where long hours and demanding seasonal workloads are part of everyday life, the message is clear: getting home safely at the end of the day is the most important job of all.
