The best way
to maintain your property is to carry out routine checks and
schedule time to deal with problems as they arise. Doing this will
save both time and money in the long term and provides a safer
working environment. Farm buildings, including staff living
quarters, are classed as non-domestic dwellings. This means that
all maintenance work should be carried out according to Health and
Safety regulations.
Natural structures and fencing
Hedges should be trimmed every two to three years on a
rotational basis, but hedges along roadsides and access points may
need trimming more frequently to maintain access and visibility. A
tree-felling license needs to be obtained from the Forestry
Commission before most mature trees can be felled. To
establish if any trees or hedgerows on your land have preservation
orders, you should contact your local planning department. The use
of hedge-cutting equipment and chainsaws should follow safety
guidance procedures. Carry out a risk assessment before starting
any maintenance work, particularly on hedging, trees or in
hazardous areas. Wear suitable protective equipment and follow
recommended equipment procedures. Ensure that safety fencing is
secure around hazardous areas, such as water bodies, livestock pens
or slurry pits.
Identify all water sources into your property and ensure that no
waste water or water from any external sources enters the mains
supply. It is an offence to contaminate mains water, so non-mains
water pipes should be labelled as such. Check all water
infrastructure, such as waterways, drainage ditches, watering
troughs, shut-off valves, and pipe-work, to ensure they are intact,
have no leaks or blockages and are suitably lagged or covered.
Create a Waterwise action plan to help you save water resources and
carry out maintenance.
Farm buildings
The condition of farm buildings such as silos, barns, stores,
toilets and wash facilities needs to be monitored regularly and
checked to ensure that they are fit for use.Fixed livestock
handling structures such as animal pens, races and livestock
loading areas need to be checked regularly to ensure they are in
good working order. Storage and working areas should be inspected
frequently for any foreseeable risks, for example weak flooring,
blocked drainage or inadequate storage spaces. Use stable work
platforms, scaffolding and safety harnesses when carrying out
maintenance work at height.
Many buildings will have asbestos-containing materials, for
example, in roofing, partitions or guttering. Over time,
these can be replaced, but if they are currently in good repair and
do not pose a direct risk, they can be left in place and monitored
regularly for any signs of damage. Ensure that you know the
location and condition of all asbestos, and minimise exposure by
alerting workers and visitors to its presence by using warning
signs at sites where it is present.
Employing contractors
Although farmers can carry out much of the maintenance work
required, there are times when it is safer to use a contractor to
carry out work requiring specialist equipment, or that requires
'signing off' by a qualified contractor. When employing external
contractors, both you and the contractor are responsible for health
and safety issues relating to the job. You must provide the
contractor with relevant information about the safety of structures
to be worked on, any hazardous materials present, and other
associated risks. Contractors should be allowed enough time to
complete the work properly and have adequate facilities provided
for them during the life of the project.
The family home
Maintenance work on the family home is not covered by farm
building regulations, but it is advisable that a similar level of
care is taken when working on domestic buildings. Other factors to
consider are the nature of the electricity supply. Whether it is
three-phase or single-phase, care must be taken to follow the
correct procedure for the type of supply. It is essential to have
adequate outdoor lighting, particularly if leaving for work before
daylight. As the majority of farms are in rural and isolated
locations, it is essential to make the home secure from crime or
illegal entry, particularly when all family members are out or
working on the farm. Avoid farm operations such as tractor routes
situated too near the farmhouse, as these may cause additional risk
of damage to the property.
See also our building work and working at height pages.
Useful links:
Farming and landscape features - hedgerows (DEFRA)
http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/landmanage/landscape/hedgerows.htm#maintenance
Tree felling: Getting permission (Forestry Commission)
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/treefellingaugust.pdf/$FILE/treefellingaugust.pdf
Waterwise on the farm. A simple guide to implementing water
management.
http://adlib.everysite.co.uk/resources/000/030/426/waterwise.pdf
Building work: What you need to do (HSE)
http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/topics/building.htm
Safety focus on farm building (NFU)
http://www.nfuonline.com/Our-work/Farm-safety/Guidance/Safety-focus-on-Farm-Buildings-leaflet/