Farm Safety

As you will be aware farm safety has become an ever increasing worry on our farm today. 40% of all fatal accidents at work in Ireland occur in the farming sector. Of particular signicance, is the dramatic increase in the number of children killed in farm accidents in recent years. Twelve children died in farm accidents in the three year peroid 1995-1997. Seventeen lost their lives in the following three year peroid 1998-2000.

Some do’s and don’ts for the use of farm machinery

 Do's:

• Make sure that all machines you buy come with a full set of safety guards in place.
• Check that the machines you buy come with a CE mark, which ensures that the machine is safe and complies with legal requirements.
• Ensure that the machines have safety instructions in English.
• Buy from reputable dealers who can stand over everything that they sell.
• Read the instruction manual before operating the machine.
• Ensure that all young people have completed a tractor driving safety course.
• Give safety instructions to new uses of the machines before they use the machine.
• Explain any likely hazards in the field or area of operation for machinery users/contractors who are working on your farm.
• When contractors are working on your farm, you should adopt a supervision role to ensure that their work can be completed in safety.

Don'ts:

• Don’t allow young people to operate machines without adequate training.
• Don’t use machines when the safety guards are missing.
• Do not operate a machine with an unprotected PTO shaft.
• Do not adjust, unblock or work a machine when the tractor engine is running, shut the engine first.
• Do not allow children ride on tractors or machines without a second purpose built seat fitted.
• Do not allow anyone to ride on a machine drawbar.
• Do not operate tractors with faulty brakes, steering systems or tyres.
• Never dismount from a moving machine.
• Do not distract people who are using farm machines.

FARM SAFETY CHECKLIST

 Tractors & Machinery
Are all tractors mechanically safe to operate?
Are all controls in good working order?
Are all PTO shafts/guards covered?
Livestock
Do you have proper handling facilities?
Does the bull have a ring and chain?
Any hazards with livestock buildings?
Slurry
Are safety precautions taken when agitating?
Are safety access manholes in place?
Are underground tanks securely fenced?
Pesticides & Chemicals
Are they stored and locked safely?
Are protective gloves/face masks available?
Buildings
Have you any swinging doors?
Are all ladders safe to use?
Tidiness, Signs
Is your yard and workshop tidy?
Are warning signs displayed?
Electrical
Has a competent electrician checked your farm electric’s in the last three years?
Is the farmyard lighting adequate?
Children
Is there a safe area for children to play?
HOW SAFE IS YOUR FARM?
The Health & Safety Authority carried out a survey of farm safety on 300 firms during the Farm Safety Week, held in April 2002. Health & Safety Authority notes that there was a greater awareness of farm safety than expected and an increase in the purchase of power take-off shaft covers. The worrying facts included that only 17.9% of farms had a Safety Statement and only 4 of these had updated their Safety Statement since it was first written.
The following is a summary of the condition of machines and facilities found by the Health & Safety Authority inspectors.

Here are three very useful booklets available from the Health and Safety Authority, which can be purchased from www.has.ie Farm Safety Handbook. This books provides information on how to make your farm a safer place to live and work.

Code of practice on preventing accidents to children and young person in agriculture.

Guidelines on the preparation of a safety statement for a farm.
Where does your farm come in this league? Make sure that you update your safety statement. Teagasc and the Health & Safety Authority have a special Farm Safety Statement, which is a step-by-step guide to completing your safety statement. Completing your safety statement is one sure way of identifying the hazards around your farm and ensuring that you do something about them.

For more information contact: www.has.ie or www.teagasc.ie

Information, fact, and figures published in this page where obtained from HSA publications, Teagasc, and with help from The Farm Tractor And Machinery Trade Assocation www.ftmta.ie