31 May, 2012

In the third of our series of blogs on farm safety, Philip Wilson takes a look at machinery.

We know that farming can be a very dangerous business and that, on average, more than 40 people die in accidents on farms every year, so reducing this number is a priority for everyone.

Sadly it is a fact that, all too often, operating machinery and equipment plays a part in incidents - transport at work and contact with machinery are two of the most common causes of death and injury in farming today. But it appears that machinery has been a factor for many hundreds of years.

According to research published recently by Oxford University, even Tudor farm workers in the 16th Century were involved in accidents involving cart crashes, dangerous harvesting techniques, windmill mangling and farm equipment that was sharp and lethal.

It is also the case that April to September was when most fatal accidents happened - not much has changed between then and now and summer remains the most dangerous period, so this blog post is particularly timely!

Back to the present day and there is much that can be done to eliminate or reduce risks around farm machinery. Whether you own a farm or work on one, making sure your equipment is in good working order and properly repaired is imperative.

The list of machinery used on farms these days is endless - mowers, balers, combine harvesters, tractors, foragers and hedge cutters to name just a few, so with a much higher amount of equipment around, the chances of something going wrong are inevitably increased.

But you can avoid accidents and health risks by following good practice guidelines. I've outlined some of the basics below, but there is a wealth of information available from organisations such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which are able to help you.

At a minimum, check your machinery on a weekly basis and carry out essential maintenance where necessary. Power Take Off (PTO) guards, hydraulic hoses and brakes are some of the areas that need particular attention. It is also a legal requirement that any machinery used on the farm should be suitable for the task it is being used for. It needs to be operated correctly by someone who is properly trained, dangerous parts need to be suitably safeguarded and secure and the machinery or equipment needs to be in a safe condition.

Emergency stops and stop controls are essential and the equipment should be stable. Never try and clear blockages or other similar problems unless you've followed the safe stop procedure, have disconnected the drive ensured the machinery is stationary and the handbrake has been applied.

Make sure that all guards are re-fitted and checked before operating the machine and that staff have received adequate training and instructions on how to work every piece of equipment safely. Make sure it is only used for the purpose it was designed for and read, understand and follow the instruction manual supplied by the manufacturer.

Wear suitable protective clothes and footwear, remove anything that could get caught in machinery - this is one of the biggest causes of accidents! Farmers, contractors and farm workers have suffered really serious injuries from trapping body parts in machinery, particularly when trying to clear blockages. Never allow someone to enter a danger zone while dangerous parts are still operating.

Other points to consider include wearing a seatbelt when driving farm vehicles - it is a legal requirement, keeping machinery clean and mud-free, checking for anyone standing near to machinery when its being manoeuvred or operated and not working near power lines.

Farmers are often under pressure to bring in crops and time spent shutting down and making a machine safe may, incorrectly, be considered time wasted - taking risks is never a sensible option though.

Accidents and fatalities on farms cause a huge amount of heartache for those involved. It is vital that all farmers understand potential risks because, as the figures show, when it comes to health and safety, the industry needs to keep tidying up its act.

For more information on the safe use of farm machinery and equipment, visit www.cornishmutual.co.uk/farmsafe or the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/. Our video, 'Staying safe around telehandlers', produced in conjunction with Duchy College, can be viewed here.