Farm safety Raising the bar in farm
safety and security EXPERT VIEW
Bolstering farm security and safety during harvest shouldn’t be ignored, says Anderson Fossett
T
his month is the peak of harvest for ce- real growers. It is a hectic time, with crops, weather and yields at the fore-
front of farmers’ minds.
A good harvest can make or break the farming year – but it remains imperative that farmers do not lose sight of their safety obli- gations and security requirements. This helps to keep farm workers and farm assets safe – and is critical in preserving the long-term viability of the farm business. Thieves – both organised and opportun- ist – rely on a lack of vigilance at harvest to make off with their ill gotten gains. So make life diffi cult for them. Where possible, machinery should be stored in secure sheds. Window and door alarms should be fi tted, alongside security cameras and light sensors. If machinery needs to be left overnight in the fi eld, it should be hidden from view and keys removed. Many farmers are turning to more high-
tech forms of security, such as geo-fencing, which allows for a boundary to be created
and an alarm triggered if a vehicle enters or exits the property. Other measures include anti-tampering
devices, such a clear gel that transfers onto criminals’ hands and clothing, as well as fi t- ting tracker devices and forensically mark- ing machinery. Farmers can register valuables on immo-
bilise.com, a free online service that helps po- lice identify owners of recovered property. For hired machinery, ensure that anyone operating the machinery complies with the insurance requirements, as failure to do so could result in a shortfall or failed claim. Inevitably, the value of buildings’ contents
may rise at this time of year, due to the stor- age of machinery and other commodities. So ensure that insurance is up-to-date and of- fers suffi cient cover.
It is also vital that all farm hands are aware of the security procedures and that they are on the look-out for suspicious behaviour and know to report anything that raises concern. With livestock now out to pasture, farms
are at an increased risk of livestock rustling so measures should be taken to ensure fi elds, hedges, fences, walls and gates are well main- tained and livestock are carefully monitored. Livestock should always be tagged to aid
identifi cation and an accurate and up-to-date record of all livestock kept. Ensure the value of the full herd or fl ock is covered by insur- ance, not just a proportion, to avoid the pos- sibilities of a shortfall in the event of a loss. Finally, criminals wish to be swift in their
actions, so creating obstructions, such as pad- locked gates and doors with reinforced hing- es, boulders or ditches on boundaries, and im- mobilising vehicles can help deter would-be thieves, as can visible security and signage at key access points and perimeters. Farm Watch schemes can be extremely valuable to farmers by helping to improve the intelligence fl ow between agricultural communities and the police, and farmers may also fi nd Farm Security Self-Assessments, available from police forces and insurance companies, are a useful resource.
Reducing the death toll There were 34 fatal injuries in agriculture during 2020/21, an increase of 13 from the low of 21 seen in the previous year. The agricultural sector is notorious for high injury and fatality rates. During har- vest season, with an infl ux of farm hands and temporary workers, that risk is further compounded.
Health and safety fi nes remain high and
we have seen farmers fork out hundreds of thousands of pounds for breaches every year. The best way for farmers to mitigate safety risks and protect their business is to ensure that they are fully compliant with health and safety law and have all the necessary pro- tections in place. Farmers can take simple, practical steps to improve safety standards. Firstly, they should identify the risks posed by their busi- ness and create health and safety policies aimed at reducing these risks. Robust risk assessments and health and safety train- ing will help ensure standards do not slip. All farm hands should be trained and
A farm sign warns visitors they are being monitored by CCTV
42 MIDLAND FARMER• AUGUST 2021
qualifi ed in operating machinery, where nec- essary, and records of relevant paperwork should be up-to-date and stored securely, such as Employers’ Liability insurance and certi- fi cations. Farmers should be wary of ‘calling in favours’ from younger members of the fam- ily or inexperienced family friends. Farmers who are hard-pressed for time should consider appointing someone within the business to look after health and safety policies and procedures, ensuring they have the training and knowledge required, or seek support from an external expert, who can identify gaps and missed opportunities, as well as make recommendations for improve- ments. Anderson Fossett is an account executive with rural insurance broker Lycetts. For details, visit
www.lycetts.co.uk
collins photography uk /
Shutterstock.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
