HSC Primary Industries (VET) cheat sheet

WHS duty of care: a PCBU must ensure health and safety so far as reasonably practicable; workers must follow safe systems of work, use PPE as directed, and report hazards and incidents.

Hierarchy of control, highest to lowest: eliminate the hazard, substitute, isolate, engineer controls, administrative controls, then PPE as the last line of defence.

Hazard versus risk: a hazard is a source of potential harm (e.g. an unguarded PTO shaft); risk is the likelihood and consequence of harm arising from it.

Risk assessment formula: risk = likelihood x consequence; controls are applied to reduce either factor, then the assessment is reviewed and recorded.

Incident reporting: notifiable incidents (death, serious injury or illness, dangerous incident) must be reported to the regulator immediately; records are kept for at least 5 years.

Chemical safety: follow the label and Safety Data Sheet (SDS), observe withholding periods and re-entry periods, and store and dispose of chemicals per label directions.

Manual handling: assess the load, keep the load close to the body, bend the knees rather than the back, and use mechanical aids or team lifting for heavy or awkward loads.

Emergency response: know the assembly point, first aid and fire equipment locations, and the emergency contact numbers before starting work on site.

Soil texture classes by particle size, largest to smallest: sand, silt, clay; texture determines water-holding capacity, drainage and workability.

Soil pH affects nutrient availability; most pasture and crop species perform best between about pH 5.5 and 7.0 (measured in water), with lime raising and sulfur or gypsum lowering pH.

Plant nutrients: macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur; micronutrients include iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron and molybdenum.

Integrated pest management order: monitor and identify, apply cultural and biological controls, use chemicals only when thresholds are exceeded, and rotate chemical groups to limit resistance.

Animal welfare: the Five Freedoms cover freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain, injury and disease, and fear and distress, plus freedom to express normal behaviour.

Biosecurity: on-farm measures include a visitor log, clean boots and clothing, restricted entry, pest and disease monitoring, and immediate reporting of unusual signs.

Sustainability triple bottom line: economic viability, environmental stewardship and social responsibility are assessed together when evaluating a production system.

Record keeping supports traceability and compliance; enterprise budgets compare gross income against variable and fixed costs to calculate gross margin and break-even point.

PPE selection follows the task and SDS: hearing protection above 85 dB(A), eye protection for grinding or spraying, respirators for dust or chemical mist, and high-visibility clothing near vehicles.

Machine guarding: power take-off (PTO) shafts, belts, chains and gears must be guarded; guards are never removed while the machine is operating or the engine is running.

Tractor safety: fit and use a roll-over protective structure (ROPS) with a seatbelt, keep the centre of gravity low on slopes, and travel across slopes rather than straight up or down where practicable.

Chainsaw operation: wear chaps, helmet with visor and hearing protection, hold the saw with both hands, and beware kickback from the top of the guide bar nose.

Hand tool and equipment checks: inspect before use, report damaged tools, keep cutting edges sharp, and store tools safely and correctly after use.

Livestock handling: use flight zone and point of balance to move animals calmly, avoid sudden noise and movement, and use race and crush facilities for restraint and treatment.

First aid priorities: DRSABCD (danger, response, send for help, airway, breathing, CPR, defibrillation); control severe bleeding with direct pressure and call emergency services.

Environmental work practices: prevent runoff and spray drift, protect riparian zones and waterways, manage effluent and waste, and follow chemical label directions for disposal.