From Farm Research Group
July 2015
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. For some, harvest has already started and for those that are cautiously waiting the dust will soon be flying as well as this year’s crops are harvested and next year’s crop is drilled. At this time of year staff are frequently pushed to their limits in terms of effort and hours worked. Harvest staff are frequently casual staff, so ensure that you take the time to give them thorough briefings on safety and a good tour of the farm/estate so that they know where everything is. For further assistance or information on the issues discussed below, please call your nearest Strutt & Parker office.
1. Inductions All temporary and casual staff must receive a clear induction onto the farm/estate regardless of whether they have worked there before, some things may have changed! Harvest staff are frequently students who are keen and ready to prove themselves in the industry, but they may not know the farm, or indeed the area so known hazards should be purposefully pointed out. 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 call in an emergency; It is also important to: Ensure that everyone has exchanged mobile numbers; Ensure that next of kin details are correct in case of an accident; Know how to implement emergency action plans; Provide farm plans, marked with the location of overhead cables and rights of way.
You must 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. Ensure that you have a copy of their personal details, including next of kin, medical conditions, allergies (e.g. penicillin, bee or wasp stings) and where they keep their epi-pen if appropriate. All staff, both existing and temporary should be advised of each other’s phone numbers so that they can contact someone in case of an emergency.
2. Noise Exposure to excessive noise can lead to permanent hearing damage. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 requires employers to reduce the risk to health from exposure to noise. This requires measures to be put in place to eliminate, reduce, isolate or control the level of noise that workers are exposed to, and provide hearing protection where there is no alternative or noise is still present. Farms and estates are very different to a warehouse or factory, but buildings with grain driers and conveyors operating in them are very noisy by their nature. Tasks such as grinding work that produce high levels of noise require staff to be provided with ear protection. Whilst ear protection needs to block out noise, it should be suitable to the environment in which it is being used. If being worn with other safety equipment neither should impede the other from performing its task correctly. There are many different types of ear protection and advice should be sought to ensure that the protection provided will perform the task correctly. Staff have a responsibility to protect their own hearing by using all safety equipment that is made available. Where ear protection has been provided, it must be worn correctly and must be individual to the worker. Consideration should be given to how the equipment will be maintained and replaced when necessary. Checking that workers are using ear protection when required is essential to protecting their hearing and is an obligation on all staff.
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3. Grain Store Safety Grain stores are rapidly filled at this time of year whilst harvest occurs. Grain stores are large, often relatively dark buildings so particular care needs to be taken when working in and around them. It is important to consider the following points when operating in and around grain stores:
Ensure dust masks with a rating of FFP2 (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 and off 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 are exposed to dry dust from harvesting, storage and milling of grains.
Minimising the amount of dust created (particularly in confined spaces) and ensuring that there is adequate ventilation is essential. Beginning with a clean working area; 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 working in grain bins is required, you should always try to avoid entering them until they are empty and well ventilated. However, this is not always possible and entry from the top of the bin may be required. If entering a bin from the top or working on high catwalks, safety harnesses should be worn with appropriate safety lines attached to secure anchor points. Fall arrest harnesses must be inspected by a competent person to check for any damage or wear on a regular basis, at least annually, under the provisions of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 and the Work at Height Regulations 2005. They should also be inspected prior to use. When working from height and using fall arrest systems, a rescue plan must be in place in case of an accident.
4. Young People & Children on Farms Young people (under 18 years of age) are from time to time provided with work experience and young family members frequently carry out various tasks on farms and estates. Consideration must be given to the type of tasks they are capable of performing and the dangers that they might be exposed to. It is important to assess what they can do both physically and safely as well as explaining the dangers of a working farm or estate. The following must be considered and explained to any young person;
The layout of the workplace and where they will be working; The nature of any physical, chemical or biological agents they may be exposed to, for what period and to what extent; What equipment will be being used and how it will be operated; Will any work processes have to be stopped or organised differently? Provision of safety equipment and briefings.
It is essential to obtain parental consent before any young person is employed, and the local authority needs to be notified if the person is 16 or younger, so that an employment permit can be issued. Where young people are on an organised work experience placement from a school, the organiser of the work experience should deal with the parental consent. Young persons should not be allowed to use dangerous pieces of equipment or machinery unless they have had specific training which enables them to do so. Particular attention should be given to HSE guidance when taking on young people. A useful HSE guide can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg364.pdf. Children are often attracted to large tractors and machines, particularly during harvest and at this time of year as they are on holiday. It must be reiterated to staff that children under the age of 13 are not permitted on machinery. It is important to think about where children might be playing for those operating machinery when entering yards or fields. Ensuring children do not play in farmyards at this busy time of year is essential.
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5. 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.
Up to 1000 litres of diesel can be transported without the application of much of the regulations. The regulations also allow certain bowsers (carrying UN 1202 diesel /gas oil only) to be treated as if they are Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) if:
The bowser was made before 10th May 2004; The tank must not be "permanently fixed to a motor vehicle or trailer"; Maximum capacity 3000 litres; Designed for mechanical handling; It shall remain "safe and suitable".
6. Machinery Guards The range of machines and tools used on farms and estates is huge; from simple hand operated tools to large sophisticated mechanised equipment such as forage and combine harvesters which have various potential hazards. Machinery hazards can be both mechanical and non-mechanical. Mechanical hazards are classified as: entanglement, traps, impact, contact and ejection; while non-mechanical hazards include: dust and fumes, fire and explosion, splinters, electricity, noise and temperature. The types of guard that may be used include: Fixed guards – a physical barrier not connected to the machine’s controls, which has no moving parts and requires a spanner or screwdriver to remove it; interlocking guards – linked to the machines controls the guard prevents access to dangerous parts during operation but allows access at other times; Adjustable guards – manually or self-adjusting guards accommodate a range of different sized materials but remain fixed during the operation of the machine; Trip devices – whilst they do not prevent access to the danger zone, they should stop the machine prior to contact being made e.g. safety trip wires on grain stirrers. Ensuring that all equipment is serviced and maintained correctly is essential to minimising the risk of danger, both to those using the machine as well as others who may be affected by its operation. Where guards are an integral part of the machine they should always be in a serviceable condition and in place prior to the machine being operated. Where guards are in place, under no circumstances must machinery be operated if the guard is damaged or missing. It is the responsibility of the employer to provide safe equipment to use, and to ensure that the means to service it properly are made available. Those that use the machine are required to use it in the manner it was intended and directed, and to report any damage or defects to the Manager/Foreman/Safety Officer.
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