FARM SAFETY ALERTS

The Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee in association with the Health and Safety Authority will publish Monthly Farm Safety Alerts.  Follow this link to view.

DON'T BECOME A STATISTIC
With deaths in the farming sector reaching an all time high of thirty in 2014 we urge agricultural contractors to remain alert for dangers when carrying out work on farms. If there are children in the vicinity of your work insist they are moved to a safe place and never carry children in the tractor cab or on trailers. Apart from being illegal, it just isn't worth the heartache if they were to be killed or injured. Always practice the safe stop/safe start procedure when operating tractors and self propelled machinery and also make sure that all machinery guards are in place and unbroken.

When travelling on the roads be aware of other drivers and when safe pull in to allow traffic build-up to pass.
Contractors have an excellent safety record and are ideally placed to lead the way in spreading the safety message.
For further information or advice please call the office.

DISPOSING OF HAZARDOUS FARM WASTE SAFELY
Hazardous waste should not be stored on your premises, in some cases storage of such items is illegal and may leave you open to prosecution.  In 2014 the EPA, in association with Teagasc, the Department of Agriculture and Local Authorities set up ten "Bring Centres" where hazardous waste could be disposed of safely.  The Bring Centres were very successful and the exercise will be repeated again this year. As soon as dates and locations are available we will put them on this website. PAC encourages all contractors to avail of these facilities and to pass on this information to colleagues and farmers.

SAFETY VIDEOS
For your information and to help inform your family and workers we have put together a list of Safety Videos that have been produced by Teagasc and the HSA.  Use these videos as a tool to bring about a culture of safety within your business and to instill in your family that the yard and workshop are not play areas and hold many hidden and unexpected dangers.  For access to these videos Go Here
Depending upon who you are showing these videos to, but especially where young children are concerned, please view first to ensure you are happy with the content.

HIGHLIGHTING SAFETY AWARENESS IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
Monday 21st July, 2014 was National Farm Safety Awareness Day.  PAC Ireland, welcomes all initiatives that help to highlight safety.  However Safety is something that should be part of our everyday lives.

Ensuring your own safety and that of workers, family and visitors is an ongoing responsibility. National Farm Safety Day was a useful focal point for you to make time to review your risk assessment or safety statement and to ensure your compliance with the requirements of the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act to review workplace safety on an annual basis.

If you didn't manage to take time on 21st July to discuss potential workplace risks and hazards with your workers, your family and visitors, do it now.

For advice from a qualified Health & Safety Professional contact the office.  Contact. 

More than any other employment sector, working in agriculture puts you at a high risk of being involved in a serious or fatal accident.  Agricultural contractors have a good track record but don't become complacent. 

Keep safety a prioritiy
Make sure your family or employees don't suffer the heartbreak of a serious or fatal accident

SAFETY STATEMENT/RISK ASSESSMENT   The law demands that you have a Safety Statement. If you are subject to an HSA inspection or in the case of an accident, one of the first things you will be asked for is your Safety Statement.  You will not be compliant if you use a generic safety statement.  Your safety statement must be specific to your business.

CHILDREN  Talk to your family about staying safe.  Ensure children don't see machinery as playthings.  Keep children away from the yard and workshop and don't carry children on machinery.  Provide a fenced area where children can play safely.

SENIORS  Hard facts show that over fifty percent of fatalities in agriculture happen to older men. If you have older family members living or visiting, make sure they are fully capable of any tasks they undertake. If an older person is carrying out work on their own ensure they have a means of communicating and also have someone keep an eye on the time they leave and check that they arrive back when expected.

EMPLOYEES  If you have employees, talk to them regularly about keeping safe.  It is your responsibility to insist that, where appropriate, personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn and that all guards and safety devices are in place when carrying out specific tasks and when operating vehicles and machinery.  Employees should be aware of the contents of your Safety Statement or Risk Assessment and must receive appropriate training before operating vehicles, machinery or equipment and before carrying out specific tasks.

MAINTENANCE Poor maintenance is a major contributor to accidents, including road traffic accidents. Vehicle and machinery maintenance and other work-related road safety issues should be integrated into arrangements for managing health and safety at work, which in turn should be part of your everyday business management. This will benefit your business in many ways:

 

    • Fewer days lost due to accidents

 

    • Fewer vehicles off the road for repair

 

    • Reduced maintenance costs

 

    • Fewer delayed or lost jobs

 

    • Better fuel efficiency
    • Less pollution
      It is your legal responsibility to ensure that vehicles are:
    • Fit for the purpose for which they are being used
    • Designed for safety

 

  • Maintained in a safe and fit condition

 

DRIVING FOR WORK
Contractors and their employees spend most of the day driving, whether on the public highway travelling to and from jobs or on farm.  There are six common issues that may contribute to accidents (see below). The nature of agricultural contracting makes it difficult for employers to supervise worker's driving behaviours.  Highlighting the common causes of accidents regularly to employees may help focus the mind.  Also ensuring that everyone has sufficient breaks and prohibiting the use of mobile phones whilst driving will help bring everyone home safely.

    • Speed
    • Distraction (mobile phones/sat. navs.)
    • Pressure of Time
    • Tiredness
    • Fitness to Drive
  • Aggression
    Contact the office for further information or advice.

DRIVING FOR WORK
Contractors and their employees spend most of the day driving, whether on the public highway travelling to and from jobs or on farm.  There are six common issues that may contribute to accidents (see below). The nature of agricultural contracting makes it difficult for employers to supervise worker's driving behaviours.  Highlighting the common causes of accidents regularly to employees may help focus the mind.  Also ensuring that everyone has sufficient breaks and prohibiting the use of mobile phones whilst driving will help bring everyone home safely.

    • Speed
    • Distraction (mobile phones/sat. navs.)
    • Pressure of Time
    • Tiredness
    • Fitness to Drive
  • Aggression
    Contact the office for further information or advice.