Stay Safe this Christmas
Christmas brings great excitement and activity with family returning home and friends visiting. Keeping a focus on safety on the farm and around the farmyard is very important. Francis Bligh, Teagasc Health and Safety Specialist tells us how we can stay safe during this time.
Rushing and tiredness
Research by Teagasc indicates that rushing and tiredness are major causal factors of farm workplace injuries, so good planning and preparation is essential to reduce the risk of injury. It is important to allocate sufficient time to allow each job to be done safely. Rushing though a list of jobs so that you can meet an unrealistic timeline to get to a function or meet a friend can have devastating consequences. Remember everyone will want you to arrive safely. Take your time and seek help.
Cold weather
Christmas and early January can bring cold weather. Before going outdoors take time to think about the weather and wear suitable warm clothing. Always bring a mobile phone. During periods of frost or ice try to have clear routes around farm buildings, and have a stock of gritting material and salt. A slip or fall can have devastating consequences.
Frozen Pipes
It is always a good use of time to check insulation on water pipes before cold weather sets in. Moving water manually is very difficult. The risk of injury also increases during cold and slippery conditions.
Lighting
Good lights have a very positive impact on safety around the farm. Check lights on tractors and machines and carry out repairs where necessary. Check that all regular walkways are well-lit and replace any blown bulbs. If there are any electrical repairs needed, make sure they’re done by a professional electrician. When erecting Christmas lights avoid overhead power lines, overloaded power sockets, damaged cables and creating trip hazards. More information on farm yard and building safety here
Farm animals
New births happen on many farms over Christmas. Animals guarding their young can be more aggressive and unpredictable than usual. Take time to make sure there is a way to put a physical barrier between you and the animals if she needs assistance during calving or when helping the calf to suckle. More information on animal welfare and safety here
Machinery
Machinery and tractors must be well maintained. Beware of handbrakes that are not working properly. Health and Safety Authority data shows that a large percentage of deaths with tractors and farm vehicles have been as a result of a crush injury.
Road Safety
Drivers of agricultural machines should drive with caution and make sure loads are secure. It is important to increase visibility by using lights and beacons, especially during inclement weather or when light is low (early mornings and evenings). Avoid busy roads whenever possible. Try to keep windows washed and clean to increase visibility. .
First Aid Box
Take time to check your first aid box to ensure that it is fully stocked and that items are in date. It is important also to ensure you Eircode is written down in a visible place so that it can be accessed easily in an emergency.
Create a safe place on the farm for children
It is important to keep children away from work areas. A safe secure play area is important if children are outside. When children are in the farmyard they must be supervised. Easy to read danger signs should be in place and these signs should be explained to children. The Teagasc website has a large amount of resources for children that can be downloaded here
Be Winter – Ready Campaign
The ‘Be Winter-Ready’ campaign, is a government initiative to raise awareness about the particular challenges that winter can present during winter and provides information on winter preparation. This year’s ‘Be Winter-Ready’ campaign is focused on “Staying Safe on the Farm over Winter”. The Office of Emergency Planning, in collaboration with their colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, have designed and produced a leaflet on farm safety. The Be Winter Ready Farm Safety leaflet is available here