Harvest Safety
According to data recorded by the HSE, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industries recorded 41 fatal injuries in Great Britain between March 2020 and April 2021. This was 18 deaths more than last year and 8 more than the 5-year average.
With the 2021 harvest season well underway and with it being a busy time of year, safety can soon be forgotten, so being prepared can help minimise the risk of any accidents occurring. Here are some key points regarding harvest safety that can help your business be prepared.
Produce a harvest safety pack, these are good to give to all staff, students and contractors working on-site and could include:
- Farms Health and safety and risk assessment around harvest
- How to act in case of emergency
- Any rules around the farm such as speed limits, one way systems, field etiquette
- Farm maps
- Store locations
- Fields and varieties
- Safe working speeds and weights for trailers.
- Machinery daily checklist and name of the person to report any faults too. The use of Apps such as Head to Tow can help with recording trailer maintenance https://www.tillypass.co.uk/head-to-tow-1
- Numbers for emergency services, UK Power networks, all Key staff in charge on-site
- Maps with locations of low power lines and underground cables
- The main first aiders on site, locations of first aid equipment and who to report accidents to
- Machinery maintenance and instructions, ensuring staff are trained on how to operate the machinery correctly and safely and can check for any issues with their machinery which may cause it to fail
- Fire can be a major hazard at harvest. Being prepared for fire can help prevent catastrophe. By checking that all fire extinguishers are in date and are in good working order and ensuring that there is a form of water bowser or tractor with a cultivator on standby if needed. Ensuring that the team are informed that if a fire occurs who has what responsibilities can help maximise time
- BE SAFE BE SEEN – make sure that all staff wear hi-vis clothing, it is a big must at harvest to help prevent injury
- Store safety – if using bins and silos ensure all staff is aware of the dangers of firstly falling from heights and secondly the dangers of being entrapped by grain. The use of traffic management around stores such as one way systems and speed limits and designated human walkways can help minimise risks of collisions
- Lone working – ensure when people are working alone for long periods of time such as drier operators or cultivations operators that they check in regularly by text or phone
- Fatigue – ensure that staff are getting adequate breaks during the day and have the correct amount of food and drink required to last the full day
- PPE – all staff should be equipped with any PPE that they require to fulfil their job correctly
- PPE to consider, dust masks, steel toe cap boots, bump hats, cut resistant gloves and coveralls
- COVID 19 – this is the second harvest where farms have had to deal with COVID 19. For guidance on how to manage COVID 19 in your business visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/construction-and-other-outdoor-work
- The what3words app could be a useful addition in the armoury when trying to locate fields for emergency services if an accident did occur on site. The app can also be used to locate fields for new staff and contractors https://what3words.com/products/what3words-app/
Useful Links for harvest safety ideas and information
https://www.nfumutual.co.uk/farming/farm-safety/farming-training-solutions/
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg185.pdf
https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/topics/electricity.htm#ohpls
https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/topics/machinery/farm-vehicles-5.htm