Accidents with farming vehicles and
machinery aren’t the only causes of injuries and fatalities. Falls from or
through fragile roofs are common too in causing accident on the farm land. As
it is vitally important to administer first aid as quickly as possible
after an accident occurs, you are advised to have some members of staff trained
in first aid administration to any occurance of accident. As back and muscle
problems can be a major problem in the farming industry, you should make
yourself aware of the main causes of these injuries and how they can be avoided
Lifting and
handling
Most farming items and tools are very
heavy and difficult to move without assistance. Bales of hay, feed bags and
other items should be moved by mechanical means where possible, that is using a
forklift that is operated by a properly trained personnel in the farm.
Note that it is also your
responsibility to ensure that seat belts or lap straps are used when operating
lifting equipment such as forklifts or telescopic handlers when working with
raised loads. This is especially important when working on any sloping or rough
terrain on your farm. Where there is the possibility of equipment rollover,
belts or straps are essential for usage. The proper handling of bales or other
heavy objects using safe lifting techniques should ensure that back injury is
minimized at all times.
Preventing falls
on the farm
In the farm during farm operations,
falls from height are the second highest cause of deaths and major injuries in
current agriculture. You must make sure that all work at height is properly
planned, supervised and carried out by people who are competent and have the
technical know-how to do the job. You should only use suitable and
well-maintained access equipment too in the farm. In the farm, the key issues
are:
Working on roofs: Roof work on or near fragile materials should
be strictly avoided. You should
also plan to ensure the right equipment;
suitable weather conditions and enough time are available to do the task at
hand safely
Stacking and
loading: A falling stack of bales can be
extremely dangerous to anyone around. You should make sure that staffs are
properly trained and adequate equipment is used to secure bales while stacking
operation is on.
Ladders: These can easily slip, and there is an extra
danger if they lean against a fragile surface. If there is any alternative,
such as a temporary work platform or scaffolding, consider using it. You should
never undertake long-term planned work at height using ladders. It’s not
advisable.
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