Farmers are being urged to prioritise safety as first-cut silage gets underway across the UK and Ireland.
The warning comes from NFU Mutual as last year’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics on fatal farm accidents in the UK show the risks of working with tractors and other farm vehicles.
Of the 27 people tragically killed in farm accidents in the UK last year, nine of the deaths related to transport, including operating agricultural vehicles or machinery, runover incidents, rollover incidents and crush incidents.
A further two fatal accidents involved machinery and power take-off ( PTO) shafts.
NFU Mutual’s head of engineering, Bob Henderson said: “Silage-making accidents, blockages and breakdowns tend to happen when people are tired, machinery is pushed too hard, or work continues in unfavourable conditions.
“It’s vital to make sure that machinery is kept well-maintained and that staff have the skills and the training to do their job safely to avoid accidents and breakdowns.”
Evita van Gestel, of NFU Mutual Risk Management Services added: “After last year’s record wet winter and spring, conditions are likely to be easier for this year’s first cut but regular maintenance checks on brakes, tyres, trailer couplings, and hydraulic pipes and brakes are just as important when the going seems easy.
“To reduce the risk of accidents it is important to make sure all drivers are trained to operate the machinery they will be using and are warned about any hazards in the fields including steep slopes, wet patches and slippery lanes.”
NFU Mutual silage safety checklist
Before silage harvesting:
- Make sure you have identified and assessed the hazards on the farm, in the field and the tasks that will be conducted during silage harvesting, and know how to manage the risks;
- Walk silage fields before cutting to identify wet spots and any potentially dangerous slippery slopes;
- Put in place a system for keeping in contact with lone workers;
- Make sure new staff are properly inducted and trained for the work you give them – in particular the dangers of working with and around farm machinery;
- Teach staff about the principles of ‘Safe Stop’ – make sure the handbrake is fully applied; controls and equipment are left safe; stop the engine; and remove the key, before leaving the vehicle or accessing the machine;
- Put in place measures to ensure children are kept away from working areas;
- Make sure staff know the safe working loads of trailers and do not allow trailers to be overfilled;
- Ensure vehicles and trailers are road legal with fully maintained and working brakes, lights, indicators, and flashing beacons;
- Regularly check the age, condition, and pressures of tyres;
- Consider using a third party to inspect trailers, with accreditation such as the ‘Tilly Your Trailer’ scheme;
- Consider letting local people know when you will be taking silage trailers on local lanes via neighbourhood social media sites, to help people reroute journeys. This will cut delays and incident risks.
Working in the fields:
- Make sure tractors have sufficient power and braking capacity to control trailers on slippery hill fields;
- Regularly check moving parts of mowers, tedders, forage harvesters, and balers, including guards and PTO shafts for wear or damage;
- Switch off engines and ensure parts have stopped before clearing blockages or carrying out maintenance – remove keys as well to prevent accidental starting (Safe Stop!);
- Make sure drivers are aware of the locations and heights of overhead power lines and check that your machinery will safely pass under wires and restrictions, especially where there is a risk of overturn with vehicles potentially being at a different angle;
- Take special care to check for vehicles following behind before turning right into fields or yards, as this is a common cause of accidents;
- Regularly clear up any mud deposits from roads and alert drivers with signage where mud may be present;
- Be aware of potential walkers in fields with public rights of way and stop the vehicle if people are in close proximity;
- Keep a mobile phone on you at all times – not left in a tractor or pick-up cab;
- Use the What3Words App to help emergency services can find your location easily;
- Take regular breaks to eat, drink and rest, to stave off tiredness, stress and mental ill-health symptoms.
Working on silage clamps:
- Keep people away from moving vehicles;
- Ensure a filling plan is followed and that sight rails are visible at all times;
- Never overfill a silage clamp as this increases the risk of vehicles overturning when rolling or filling;
- Only use vehicles that are suitable for the task — fitted with an approved safety cab or Roll over Protection Structure (RoPS), well-lugged tyres, suitably weighted etc.;
- For indoor clamps, keep away for the first 72 hours, as this is when dangerous nitrogen dioxide gas can form in large quantities;
- Keep clear of the edge of the clamp (at least 1m) when (un)sheeting or removing tyres. If possible, use mobile access equipment or a hook or a pole to carry out the task safely.
