HSE Launch New Campaign – ‘Your Farm, Your Future’

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Mat Beale (Chippenham)

During March, HSE launched a new campaign aiming to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities in agriculture.  Agriculture has the highest number of deaths and injuries across all sectors in the UK, per 100,000 workers.  According to statistics, moving vehicles account for the around 30% of all fatal incidents on farm. That is 48 fatalities over the last 5 years.  HSE’s campaign is centred around working safely with farm vehicles, ‘Safe Farm, Safe Driver, Safe Vehicle’.

The advice for a ‘safe farm’ concentrates on 3 tips to make a farm a safer place:

  • Segregate vehicles and people, using marked routes and walkways to keep vehicles and pedestrians apart.
  • Use barriers and posts in high traffic areas to protect people.
  • Use signage, good lighting and high viz clothing to warn and help people been seen on farm.

A ‘safe driver’ should pause, think, prevent. The advice includes:

  • Take a moment, assess the surroundings.
  • Use the handbrake every time.
  • Think about visibility, including ensuring mirrors and windows are clean, and consider where your blind spots are.

According to HSE, around 50% of deaths involving moving vehicles on farm, could be prevented by:

  • Regularly checking and maintaining brakes.
  • Ensuring there is a seatbelt fitted and worn every time.
  • For vehicles with doors fitted, ensuring they are attached securely and remain closed when the vehicle is moving.
  • Ensure that mirrors are secure and clean to ensure optimum visibility.

There are of course many other hazards to take into account that could cause an incident, including new workers, tiredness, time pressures and complacency.  But if everyone takes the time to pause, and think about these hazards that are present, and implement adequate procedures, incidents can be avoided, which will save down time and possibly someone’s life.

For a review of your Farm Healthy and Safety procedures and practices, contact Mat at mathewbeale@fcgagric.com 

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