Farmers urged to prioritise safety as first-cut silage begins
Farmers are being urged to prioritise safety as first-cut silage gets underway across the UK and Ireland.
The warning comes from NFU Mutual as last year’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics on fatal farm accidents in the UK show the risks of working with tractors and other farm vehicles.
Of the 27 people tragically killed in farm accidents in the UK last year, nine of the deaths related to transport, including operating agricultural vehicles or machinery, runover incidents, rollover incidents and crush incidents.
A further two fatal accidents involved machinery and power take-off ( PTO) shafts.
NFU Mutual’s head of engineering, Bob Henderson said: “Silage-making accidents, blockages and breakdowns tend to happen when people are tired, machinery is pushed too hard, or work continues in unfavourable conditions.
“It’s vital to make sure that machinery is kept well-maintained and that staff have the skills and the training to do their job safely to avoid accidents and breakdowns.”
Evita van Gestel, of NFU Mutual Risk Management Services added: “After last year’s record wet winter and spring, conditions are likely to be easier for this year’s first cut but regular maintenance checks on brakes, tyres, trailer couplings, and hydraulic pipes and brakes are just as important when the going seems easy.
“To reduce the risk of accidents it is important to make sure all drivers are trained to operate the machinery they will be using and are warned about any hazards in the fields including steep slopes, wet patches and slippery lanes.”
NFU Mutual silage safety checklist
Before silage harvesting:
Working in the fields:
Working on silage clamps:
