Staying safe in the orchard and packshed

 

Last updated: 15 September 2025

Avocados Australia and Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited (Hort Innovation) makes no representations and expressly disclaims all warranties (to the extent permitted by law) about the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the information included in this article, prepared as part of project AV18003.

Reliance on any information provided by Avocados Australia and Hort Innovation is entirely at your own risk. Avocados Australia and Hort Innovation are not responsible for, and will not be liable for, any loss, damage, claim, expense, cost (including legal costs) or other liability arising in any way, including from any Avocados Australia, Hort Innovation or other person’s negligence or otherwise from your use or non-use of the information in this article, or from reliance on information contained in the material or that Avocados Australia and Hort Innovation provides to you by any other means.

We encourage you to seek advice from experts in the field and carefully read the requirements for your state and federal authorities.

 

General tips

 

Sourcing staff

If you’re a producer, COVID-19 may impact your ability to source harvesting and production workers. Many businesses have relied on a regular pattern of seasonal workers and a stable, permanent workforce for many seasons, but there are other ways to recruit:

Several states also have their own jobs hub, and we have curated more information in the BPR here.

 

WHS

Please consult your relevant state department as well as Safe Work Australia for the latest workplace health and safety information.

National
States & Territories
  • New South Wales – SafeWork NSW
  • Northern Territory – NT WorkSafe
  • Queensland – WorkCover Queensland
  • Also for Queensland, Business Queensland has information here on protecting your workforce. This information may be generally applicable across the country.
  • Another one from Queensland but please check with your jurisdiction as well. In Queensland, if you are employing staff from the Pacific Islands, you need to provide induction and training in their first language. If you only provide this in English and they don’t understand, you are not meeting your obligations under WHS laws. Read more.
  • South Australia – SafeWork SA
  • Tasmania – WorkSafe Tasmania
  • Victoria – Work Safe Victoria
  • Western Australia – WorkSafe
Help accessing PPE
  • Download a list of PPE suppliers collated by the New South Wales Government by clicking here
  • Queensland manufacturers & businesses needing help with supply chain issues relating to personal protective equipment such as face masks, hand sanitisers and other necessities or other critical products to enable their ongoing operation, please click here to fill out the government form.

Industrial Relations

Please consult the relevant national bodies for the latest industrial relations updates.

 

Audits

 

  • Contacts and resources

 

References

 

https://avocado.org.au/best-practice-resource/packhouse/food-safety/

https://avocado.org.au/best-practice-resource/whs/ – Avocado Growing and Packing – A Practical Safety Guide

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Author: Lisa Yorkston
Date Published: 07/04/2020
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