From Farm Research Group
July 2011
Health & Safety Update
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Welcome to Strutt & Parker’s Farm Research Group Health & Safety Update. The quarterly Health & Safety Update is designed to make you think about Health & Safety matters on your farm and/or estate. Health & Safety is a vital part of any business operation. The HSE have recently announced the number of workers that were fatally injured in the year 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 as being 38 workers increasing from 25 in the previous year. The tragic death of a student on a Velcourt farm last year when the discharge auger of the combine he was operating came into contact with an 11,000 volt overhead power line is a reminder of how dangerous a simple operation can be. The HSE found that lack of specific risk assessments to the individual combine and to working in fields with overhead power lines coupled with inadequate training for the farm manager and employees was partly to blame. A fine of £120,000 was imposed on Velcourt plus costs of £45,000, had they not had a Health & Safety Policy or Risk Assessments in place the fine could have been considerably higher. It has now been confirmed that the reporting of most work related and injuries and incidents under RIDDOR will be required to be completed online from 12 September 2011. Fatalities, major injuries and major incidents will still be able to be reported by telephone. The report forms are currently being revised to make the process faster and easier but it is important to familiarise yourself with the new format. For further assistance on these or any other issues please call your nearest Strutt & Parker Office.
1. Overhead Power Lines Many properties have overhead cables crossing them, these can include phone lines to high voltage electricity cables, it is well advised to have a plan of where all these cables are situated and provide operators with a copy of the plan. Sprayer and combine operators and those operating tipping trailers should be particularly aware of where power cables are and should avoid opening/closing booms, operating discharge augers or tipping trailers under them. The use of material handlers should be avoided under cables particularly those with a high reach capability. If a power line has been brought down it should not be approached as it may still be live, power lines will attempt to re-power themselves three times before indicating to the power company that there is a problem. Always assume that the power lines are live even if they are not sparking. Avoid stopping under overhead power lines and never stack bales under them. If you are in a machine/vehicle and are in contact with a power cable you should either stay in the machine/vehicle or jump well clear – ensure you are not in contact with the ground and machine/vehicle at the same time as you risk electrocution. Do not allow anyone to approach you or the machine/vehicle until it has been confirmed that the power has been isolated by the power/utility company as they also could risk electrocution.
2. Risk Assessments Risk assessments should be done for every major and regular task that is carried out. If similar machines differ from one another for example discharge augers on combines going out horizontally or at an angle the risk assessment should identify this and the operator should be made aware. Clearly completing a written risk assessment for every job is not possible but the risks should be carefully considered on each occasion and where unusual or one-off jobs are being carried out a risk assessment should be carried out. Completing a risk assessment should not be viewed as an onerous task; it is the documentation of your thought processes of how you should carry out a task safely and what potential risks it poses. The potential risks should take into account other people, livestock, buildings, machinery/tools and the environment. Ensuring that risk assessments are carried out and reviewed regularly is important in terms of your own and fellow employees/workers health and safety, failure to have sufficient assessments and controls in place can prove costly and at worst fatal.
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3. Staff Inductions It is important to ensure all new employees are inducted onto the farm/estate properly; this should include knowledge of;
Location of first aid kits, accident books, fire extinguishers, electric isolation points, Health & Safety policy; Who the qualified first aiders are; Who to report any accidents to; Who to ring in an emergency; Emergency action plans.
You should ensure that all new staff read and sign to confirm they have read the business’s Health & Safety policy as soon as possible after their start date. This is also an appropriate time to make sure that you have a copy of all of their personal details including next of kin contacts, any allergies (e.g. bee or wasp stings) and where they keep their epi-pen if appropriate. All staff existing and temporary should be advised of one another’s phone numbers so that they can contact someone in case of emergency. Whilst staff may not appear to have any disability or injury it is advisable to determine whether they have any existing health conditions and/or an industrial injury lodged. Farm staff are required to carry out a huge variety of tasks but certification for many tasks is now required, this is to ensure safe operation for the operator, environment and employer – it is essential that you check what certificates are held and take a copy of them.
4. Grainstores and Dust Grain stores are large often relatively dark buildings so particular care needs to be taken when working in them. It is important to consider the following points when operating in and around grain stores:
Ensure dust masks (conforming to EN149) are used; Ensure cab doors are closed when loading or out loading to reduce exposure to dust; Take care when entering or exiting grain stores; Use hand rails when climbing onto catwalks; Where safety harnesses and lines are available ensure they are used; When cleaning/servicing conveyors and driers ensure they are isolated at the mains.
Dust can cause serious illnesses, workers are at risk if they handle hay or straw harvested in damp conditions, exposed to dry dust from harvesting, storage and milling of grains and/or work with intensively reared livestock. Try to minimise the amount of dust created particularly in confined spaces and ensure that there is adequate ventilation. Starting with a clean working area is important; remove as much dust from floors, walls and rafters as possible, where dust is to be brushed wet the area thoroughly first to prevent dust from rising. Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) should be used as an additional method of control and in conjunction with other methods of control to reduce the level of exposure to dust. If you have a chest illness tell your doctor. You may be required to have a blood test, chest X-ray or lung function test. Repeated exposure can lead to chronic disabling illness.
5. Vehicle Loads and Weights Where employees are operating different vehicles it is essential to ensure that they are licensed to do so, failure to ensure that the appropriate licence is held can lead to a conviction of £2500 and 3-6 penalty points. A farm truck towing a trailer with a weight in excess of 750kgs requires category B+E, whilst a tracked machine requires the operator to be over 21 years of age and hold a category H on their licence. The maximum gross weight limit for a tractor and trailer combination is 24,390 kgs, the maximum penalty for operating a tractor and trailer over this weight is £5,000. Therefore when road work is essential this should be borne in mind when hauling heavy loads and where high horsepower tractors with cultivation equipment are being moved.
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This weight limit is currently under review and may be increased but in the meantime you should adhere to the existing legislation.
6. Wide Load Derogations When large machinery is being moved more than five miles a dispensation for abnormal loads is required. You are required to give the Police at least 24 hours notification when moving machines in excess of three metres wide more than five miles on a road that has a speed limit of 40 mph or less. At busy times of the year this could be easily over looked and can be a time consuming exercise, by registering for a dispensation the notification conditions are reduced or in some cases removed altogether. Dispensations are issued annually so it is important to renew an existing dispensation or apply for a new one before harvest and cultivation operations start. The criteria within the dispensation may vary from county to county so applying in good time can help avoid potential problems later in the year, where you operate in different counties you will need to apply for a dispensation for each county from the appropriate constabulary. Loads of up to 4.1 metres can be moved on nonmotorway routes without a Police escort but should be escorted by a separate vehicle, if a Police escort is required there can be a charge.
7. Combining Combining carries a high level of responsibility. The operator needs to be aware of many things all happening at once and often at high speed. Carry out a review of your risk assessment for combining prior to the start of the season. Ensure that the operators are familiar and adequately trained in the operation of the make and model of combine(s) they will be operating. Simple safety procedures can make the job safer for all who operate around the combine; Ensure that the machine has been serviced adequately before the start of the season and appropriate spares are carried for the season; Ensure all windows and mirrors are cleaned each morning; Note where overhead power lines are in every field before starting work and avoid unloading or stopping under them; Be conscious of the angle that the discharging auger is at from the machine when out for unloading; Ensure that the grain tank lids are not likely to come into contact with any overhead power lines or other overhead obstruction; Do not climb round the combine other than via designated access points and using where available steps, standing areas etc.; Sound the horn before starting the engine or reversing; When cleaning the grain tank, carrying out any work associated with it or when working at the rear, inside or underneath the combine. Stop the engine and remove the ignition key and place it in your pocket; Never climb or reach into the tank unless the engine and all augers are stopped and the key is removed from the ignition; Use drive-reversing mechanisms to wind out blockages; Keep the cab door shut while the combine is operating, to control dust and reduce noise exposure; Guards must be in position and correctly fitted at all times when the combine is running; When reversing, make sure you can see what is behind you; Remember the hazards posed by straw chopper and spreaders – allow an adequate run-down time before approaching the rear of the machine; Ensure that there are adequate fire extinguishers both in number and type on the combine and that they have been serviced by a competent person; Remember the baler man and try to avoid leaving large heaps in the swath.
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Every effort has been made to ensure the information provided within this document is fully accurate. However Strutt & Parker LLP accept no responsibility if recipients should act upon any of the information without seeking the appropriate professional advice.
