The cotton sector is a leader in farm WHS because growers have used evidence-based information to develop practical and effective systems to manage WHS. In some instances WHS can be complex due to conflicting interpretation of WHS standards e.g. advice on practical machinery guarding, bunding for diesel tanks, access to distribution tanks/ irrigation gates etc. This leads to less than optimal uptake and compliance by growers. It is widely accepted that for increased adoption of safety practices to occur, WHS systems need to be convenient, result in cost efficiencies and assist with meeting compliance and legislation requirements.

There is also a requirement to ensure that all workers are competent to undertake the tasks required, with a safety induction being critical to assist in this process. Consequently, enhancing the ease with which contractors can be inducted will assist growers.

With the increasing uptake of smart phone and tablet computer technologies by growers, this provides an opportunity to develop alternate approaches that may further streamline the process to improve WHS.

This project developed a Work Health and Safety (WHS) application (app) for use in smart phones (both i phone and android) and tablet computers, that will provide visual examples and summary information and visual examples of best practice hazard control for the common scenarios and risks that are known on cotton farms. Typically this will involve areas / facilities such as: fuel storage; chemical storage; workshops; pump stations; irrigation structures /channels; confined spaces; airstrips; farm traffic management systems; and machinery safety.

Growers will be able to cross reference best practice requirements from these areas/facilities in real-time and be able to rapidly ascertain issues that require attention. WHS information from these apps will then also be linked directly into the on-going development of the platform (as has been achieved with the Energy Calc Lite app that is currently under development for growers). This process will ensure growers can not only read but also have a visual example of what constitutes best practice and known (accepted) hazard control and will eliminate misinterpretation or any double handling of information as it can be integrated directly into their WHS records. Additionally, the approach will provide scope for further expansion into other WHS related issues over time.