The Farmers Mart Jun/Jul 2014 - Issue 34 | Page 21

FARM NEWS

STAY SAFE ON
THE FARM
CHILDREN
With long school summer
holidays in mind, the HSE
is reminding farmers that
most children who are
killed in farm accidents are
family members. Helping
children understand
that the farm is first and
foremost a workplace and
not a playground, goes
a long way to protecting
them.
With hay-making still
underway and baling in
full swing, farmers are also
reminded of the dangers
created by falling bales and the
need to build safe stacks.
And, following a number
of recent incidents involving
injuries and deaths caused
by cattle to deal with the
requirements for keeping cattle
in fields with public access.

‘Two information
sheets are available
from HSE to help
reduce risks to the
public, particularly
where bulls or
newly calved cattle
are grazing’
CATTLE & THE PUBLIC
Every year a number of
serious accidents occur where
members of the public using
public rights of way through
fields containing cattle and
calves are injured, sometimes
fatally.
Two information sheets are
available from HSE to help
reduce risks to the public,
particularly where bulls
or newly calved cattle are
grazing.

DANGER FROM
OVERHEAD POWER
LINES (OHPL)
Prior to harvest, farmers and
contractors are also reminded
to make sure that they know
where OHPLs are located so
they can plan how to carry out
the work safely.

‘Farm machinery
is getting bigger’
Farm machinery is getting
bigger and taller, increasing
the chance of a cable strike.
So avoid working near OHPLs
where you can. Remember
also not to build bale stacks,
or raise tipping trailers in the
vicinity of OHPLS. Planning
all of these activities is the
best way of avoiding serious
incidents.
Always remember contact
with electricity can kill, cause
serious burns and disabling
injuries. Such incidents
can also cause disruption
and costs to farmers,
other businesses and the
community.
HAY BALES
With hay making underway
and silage being made, farmers
and contractors should think
carefully about working with
bales. Large round or square
bales are more than capable
of causing serious injury or
death if not wrapped, handled,
transported or stacked safely.
Key points HSE
guidance:
SAFE STOP
Remember to make sure
that both you and your
workers perform the safe stop
procedure before making any

To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk

adjustments on a machine. For
example, carry out cleaning
or deal with a blockage on a
baler.
Follow Safe Stop before
removing any guards, and
replace them before running
the machine.
And always practice safe
stop before dismounting from
a tractor or other self propelled
machine. Hand brake on;
Controls to neutral or safe;
Engine switched off; Key
removed.

‘Always practise
safe stop before
dismounting’
RECENT PROSECUTIONS
The incidents listed here help
to reinforce the importance of
working safely whilst carrying
out day to day jobs on the
farm.
Working at Height
A farming family was
sentenced for safety fallings
after a worker plunged 15 feet
from a cowshed to his death in
front of his two sons.
Details on worker
roof fall
A farmer was fined after a
worker was seriously injured
when he fell more than three
metres through a cattle barn
fragile roof light.
Fall Incidents Details
A young father of two
suffered life-changing injuries
after he plunged seven metres
through fragile roof sheets.
Unsafe fragile
roof at a farm
A 16-year-old apprentice had
a lucky escape from serious

injury after falling four metres
through a fragile rooflight at a
farm.
Fragile roof light
fall details
A farm partner was fined
after a worker suffered serious
injuries when he fell from a
fragile grain store roof. He was
repairing a leak when he fell
onto a car and rolled onto the
concrete floor below.
Fall from asbestos
cement sheeting
Guidance on
preventing falls
A dairy farming business
was fined after a father-of-one
suffered fatal injuries when a
1.5 tonne concrete panel fell
on him.
Falling panel from
unsuitable lifting
equipment
An company has been fined
for serious safety failings after
a worker suffered severe crush
injuries when a tractor wheel
fell on him.
Tractor wheel
incident
Guidance on
wheel changing
Workplace falls and
dangerous machines have
been named as the two
most common reasons for
companies being prosecuted
over health and safety
breaches in the North West of
England.
The HSE provides helpful,
detailed guidance about
all the issues raised here.
Visit the HSE
Agriculture Health and
Safety website:
www.hse.gov.uk

FarmersMart Jun/Jul 2014

21