page 19_Layout 1 24/04/2019 16:38 Page 21 Y TIR Dan And remember, FARM SAFETY ch ildrenco


AS the weather and daylight hou rs improve it’s the time whenmore and more children are ou tside playing ‐ and pu tting themselves into potential danger in the farmyard. Plan ahead and make su re you r holding is child friendly and all the risks are minimised.


althou gh


parents shou ld prevent their childrenfrom playing around the farmyard, the lu re of tractors, machinery and animals, they are still at risk. And it is you , every adu lt working in agricu ltu re, whether farm owner, contractor or worker, who mu st responsibility for youngsters.


take


Machinery and vehicles Ju st a qu ick check of any area which canbe accessed shou ld be looked atwith a critical eye to the potential danger, and either removed, or made safe.


Top of the list is making su re


no‐one under 16 shou ld drive a qu ad, whilst the age limit for tractors is 13, as long as they do not take passengers. All of them mu st be trained and competent.


Other essentials inclu de never


leaving keys inthe machines and pu t somewhere safe, pu tting on the parking brake,


lowering


implements and locking any doors and ensu ring all gu ards are inplace.


g er inth e farmyard, as meo


u t top Emergencies


Emergency telephone numbers ‐ strategically placed.


Arrangement for calling help ‐ all family members shou ld know. Basic first aid and training,


resu scitation‐ at least one personshou ld be qu alified.


First aid kits ‐ to treat any minor inju ries. Farmyard and bu ildings


Warndrivers that childrenmay be abou t with signs, keeping the yard cleanand tidy, plan traffic rou tes to avoid reversing machinery, making clear views at corners, cover all access to au gers, elevators and if possible, setting aside a secu re area for childrento play in.


Livestock


Childrenshou ldn’t play around livestock areas, shou ld always have adu lt su pervisionwhenin contact with animals, ensu re all fences, pens and gates are secu re, fence off slu rry pits and make su re covers are inplace, always make su re sheep dips are covered and never left unprotected ‐ and finally always make su re they wash their hands after petting any animals.


Other hazards


Make ru les for young people to follow, keep track of where family members are, store guns and ammunition in locked strongroom or cabinet and make su re all chemicals are clearly marked and locked away.


HSE warns farmers of livestock risks


FARMERS are being told they mu st pay closer attentionto health and safety after HSE raises concerns over recent livestock handling incidents. Each year a number of people are killed or inju red in incidents involving cattle and HSE is reminding farmers that these incidents canbe prevented. HSE inspectors will be visiting farms to remind farmers of their du ty to protect themselves, their workers and members of the pu blic from the risks of cattle. If they are not, inspectors will not


hesitate to u se enforcement to bring abou t improvements. Throu ghou t the inspections, HSE will be reminding workers that whenworking with livestock, they shou ld have the appropriate controls inplace:


• proper handling facilities, which you keep ingood working order; • a race and a cru sh su itable for the animals you handle; • trained and competent workers; and • a rigorou s cu lling policy for temperamental animals. The focu s onlivestock is part of a programme of inspections over the next twelve months to ensu re farmers are doing the right things to complywith the law and prevent death, inju ry and ill‐health. HSE’s Head of Agricu ltu re, Andrew Tu rner said:


“The campaignfocu s is timely as last year eight people died onfarms incattle related incidents, nearly one qu arter of the total deaths onBritish farms. “Last year 33 people were killed in agricu ltu re


across Britainand thoseworking inthe indu stryneed to realise that death, inju ries and cases of ill‐health are not aninevitable part of farming and canbe prevented. “We mu st not become complacent and accept this


as the norm. Farmers shou ld plantheir work, know the risks and u se the right controls to ensu re that everyone cango home healthy from their work.” HSE has a range of resou rces and gu ides available


to help those working onthe farm manage the risks appropriately. More informationonwhat topics the inspectors


will be looking at whenthey visit farms canbe found onthe HSE website: www.hse.gov.u k/


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