From Farm Research Group
July 2013
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 busiest time of year for many farms and estates will soon be upon us and with this comes added pressure and stress for all involved. Agriculture remains one of the most dangerous industries to work in; with an average of nearly one person a week being killed on a farm. It is therefore essential that efforts are made to ensure that all new and existing staff are reminded of their responsibilities to look after themselves, each other and the equipment that they operate. An accident as well as causing harm and/or damage to an individual and/or equipment is expensive in terms of lost time, stress and upset for those involved and those left to deal with the situation. The true cost of an accident is rarely met by the insurance claim so reducing the chance of an accident is the best insurance measure. For further assistance on these or any other issues please call your nearest Strutt & Parker office.
1.
Inductions
With temporary and casual staff now arriving on farms and estates for the summer/harvest work it is essential to ensure that they all receive a clear induction onto the farm/estate regardless of whether they have worked there before, some things may have changed! An induction should include:
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; -Ensuring that everyone has exchanged mobile numbers; Ensuring that next of kin details are correct in case of an accident and the need to contact them in an emergency; Emergency action plans.
You should ensure that all new staff read and sign to confirm they have read the firm’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, allergies (e.g. bee or wasp stings) and where they keep their epipen if appropriate. All staff existing and temporary should be advised of each other’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.
2. Competency to Use Machinery & Plant 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. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires that the employer provides whatever information, instruction and training is required to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of your employees. This is reinforced by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which require employers to identify situations where training is particularly important, e.g. when people start work, exposure to new or increased risks and where existing skills require updating. With new staff starting work for the summer months it is essential to ensure that they have the appropriate certification to operate machinery and plant that they will be required to use? during the course of their employment. If the appropriate certification is not held they must not be allowed to use the machinery or plant unless under the direct supervision of a competent person who holds the appropriate certificate.
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3. Storage of Fertiliser Many farms will start taking delivery of some or all of their fertiliser in the coming months. How this is stored and handled is important and there were changes made to the regulations in April 2013. Ammonium nitrate should be stored in dedicated buildings that are well ventilated and constructed from materials that do not burn, storage facilities should be cleaned out prior to taking delivery. Bags should be stacked in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and be at least one metre away from the edge of the building to ensure the stack can be inspected around its full perimeter. It is important to remember when out loading of fertiliser to lock the store at the end of the day and to take care when transporting fertiliser from field to store.
soon as possible to prevent spillages reaching any watercourses or drains. Where 25 tonnes or more of fertiliser with a nitrogen content greater than 15.75% is stored the local Fire Brigade and HSE must be notified, if more than 150 tonnes is stored the Fire Brigade must also be notified of the anticipated tonnage. The site must also be marked with an appropriate hazard warning sign showing that there is an oxidising agent being stored.
In some cases it is necessary to store fertiliser outside, in which case measures to prevent it deteriorating from sunlight and/or water must be put in place. Stacks should be covered with a sheet and where appropriate fenced to protect the bags from damage. Storage areas should be away from drains and any possible sources of heat, fire or explosion such as oil or gas stores. Any spilt product should be cleared as
4. Fuel Storage & Bowsers The storage of fuel is subject to ‘The Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) Regulations 2010. The regulations state that where more than 1500 litres of fuel oil are stored on the farm, above ground tanks and drums must be surrounded by impermeable barriers, or bunds to stop oil escaping unless the storage facility was in st place prior to 1 March 1991 and has not been substantially enlarged or improved since. The bund and the base of the storage area must be made impermeable to both water and oil and likely to remain so with proper maintenance for at least 20 years. The bund must not contain any gaps or holes, nor can it have a drain. Every part of the tank must be within the bund. The Environment Agency can serve notice to have facilities improved if there is a significant risk of pollution. Note that underground tanks and bowsers used for transporting fuel oil are not controlled by these regulations. Fixed taps and valves must discharge downwards and valves must be locked shut when not in use. Discharge pipes must be fitted with a nozzle which contains an automatic shut-off device and must be locked within the bunded area when not in use. The carriage of red diesel on the road may require compliance with the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004 (the Carriage Regulations). Red diesel, UN1202, is classed as a dangerous good under hazard class 3, flammable liquids. However, it should be noted that dangerous goods transported by agricultural or forestry tractors or mobile machinery (such as a combine harvester), as well as any trailer being towed by these vehicles, are exempt from the Carriage Regulations. If you are planning to transport red diesel with any other vehicle, some, or all, of the Carriage Regulations may apply. Where fuel is delivered via a flexible pipe that is permanently attached to the bowser you must ensure that; The delivery end is fitted with a manually operated pipe or valve that closes automatically when not in use; The pump or valve is lockable and is kept locked when not in use. If you are planning to replace, substantially enlarge or substantially reconstruct existing fuel oil storage you must notify the Environment Agency at least 14 days before it is used.
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5. Baling & Stacking of Bales Many accidents have occurred with balers in the past, they are operated at peak periods and often in catchy weather conditions when staff are under stress due to heavy workloads. All guards must be correctly fitted and in position before commencing work, guards should be fitted at the front, sides and rear of the machine to guard chains, sprockets, rollers and other parts which can cause injury. The pick-up reel guard should extend in front of the tines. It is important to ensure baling is carried out in optimum weather conditions to avoid blockages and uneven bale formation. Avoid baling wet or damp hay and straw as this causes blockages unless pick-ups for use on wet hay or silage are specifically used. Avoid baling light material when starting to form a fresh bale. This can lead to poor core forming and uneven bales which could pose a risk to others in the future particularly when stacked. The stacking of large bales is done mechanically. You should ensure that only staff who are authorised and conversant with the safe use of the equipment, or those undergoing supervised training can work on, or with the machinery associated with bale stacks. It is important to ensure that:
Children are kept away from bale stacks, handling and stacking operations; There are no overhead power lines near or above the stacking or working area; Properly designed and constructed mechanical handling equipment for handling bales is used; The machinery is properly maintained; The rated capacity of lifting machinery is not exceeded; Only trailers designed or properly adapted for bale handling are used; Hooks are fitted so ropes can be used to secure loads; the use of restraining devices at both ends is recommended.
Where small bales are manually handled, observe correct manual handling technique, make arrangements for communication between those on the load and those on the ground, particularly if loading by machine – the stacker should always remain visible to the loader. Be careful of lifting small bales by their string when working on stacks or loads. The sudden release of tension if the string snaps can force you to lose your balance and suffer a dangerous fall.
6. Overhead Cables Most farms and estates have overhead cables crossing them; these can include phone lines to high voltage electricity cables. A plan of where all these cables are situated should be provided to all staff. Sprayer and combine operators, those operating tipping trailers and those stacking bales 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.
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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.
