Things that would improve farm safety ?

teslacoils · Apr 5, 2021

Pay enough so we don't have to work all hours, under pressure, always alone?

Stop the media shitting on us, so we stop topping ourselves?

topground · Apr 5, 2021

Goweresque said:
Its not a question of money per se, but money brings corporatism, and corporatism brings H&S. Its noticeable that the vast majority of farm fatalities are owner occupier/workers or family members, not paid third party employees. Most other dangerous industries do not have the owner being the manager and the worker. They have shareholders, paid management and paid employees. Farming can't afford that and is not profitable enough to attract the large corporations to buy up farm land and take over, which they would do if there was more money in it. Farming survives as a peasant activity, and as such has the peasant attitude to H&S - it'll be alright, I've done it like that for years.

The other thing as I keep banging on about is to enforce a strict retirement age for farming of 60. If you are caught working on a farm after that age you would be committing a criminal offence and would be prosecuted. You could own the farm, and/or be a business partner, but not be involved in the day to day management or working thereof. That would cut more than half the farming deaths in an instant. It would also mean that farming lost the awful mantra 'One day son this will all be yours' that elderly tyrants hold over their sons (and daughters). If they HAD to retire at 60 the next generation would get a chance. Or there would be lots more farms available to rent for younger entrants. Either way it would be a Good Thing. And I speak as someone aged 50..........

When you reach the age of 60 you will need to be reminded of this post.

steveR · Apr 5, 2021

Matt77 said:
The big bags I agree with, I’m in process of making a drill filler with an auger, two springs ago I was about to load a ton bag of spring wheat, brand new bag, and the side webbing on one side hoop went just as I got out of the JCB, I was 30 seconds away from heading up the steps and being underneath it! Trouble is, now they don’t want you to reuse them I think they have reduced the quantity, to save money of course, can’t win. And the top part of the hoop wasn’t damaged before anyone says, and I use a bag lifter, not tines.

It is the 2-3 other forklift operators before you.....

Andrew · Apr 5, 2021

Bloders said:
do you have figures for the age demographic for farmers?
the charts show more deaths in the 65+ bracket, but if thats the age of the majority of farmers, then that is to be expected. the numbers need to be "baselined" to say if age is relevant or not.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/pdf/agriculture-fatal-injuries-1920-summary.pdf

Hilly · Apr 5, 2021

Andrew said:
Do you think if every farm got a grant of £50k per year do you think it would help?
I would suggest there would be some people who would still cut corners, do the work themselves and keep the money, plead poverty etc?
People would still rush to get done before the rain, to get that extra bit of value etc.

If money is the argument, perhaps the better way would be to take money out of it completely and have state managed farms with farm workers getting no monetary gain for performance, communist style?

Superb idea I can’t wait, do communist country’s have no accidents ?

Andrew · Apr 5, 2021

Hilly said:
Superb idea I can’t wait, do communist country’s have no accidents ?

Of course they do, that's where I was headed

.
Human nature is to cut corners whether there is a need to or not

Bloders · Apr 5, 2021

Andrew said:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/pdf/agriculture-fatal-injuries-1920-summary.pdf

that does not show the number working on farms in each age bracket.

Fendt516profi · Apr 5, 2021

Andrew said:
Do you think if every farm got a grant of £50k per year do you think it would help?
I would suggest there would be some people who would still cut corners, do the work themselves and keep the money, plead poverty etc?
People would still rush to get done before the rain, to get that extra bit of value etc.

If money is the argument, perhaps the better way would be to take money out of it completely and have state managed farms with farm workers getting no monetary gain for performance, communist style?

Ban greed.

Hilly · Apr 5, 2021

Andrew said:
Of course they do, that's where I was headed .
Human nature is to cut corners whether there is a need to or not

Pleased to help you safely toward it .

Goweresque · Apr 5, 2021

4440 said:
A lot of people keep asking how people die on farms and what is the demographic?
It all here, https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/resources/fatal.htm

Just proves my point - the over 60s are 3-4 times more likely to have a fatal accident than the under 60s. Even the 50 somethings are largely in the same risk bracket as younger people. It really is an over 60 thing, but no-one wants to face up to it, because so many people in farming are either older than that, or are rapidly approaching it. Farming has not faced the fact that life expectancy has risen considerably over the last 40 years and while 60 is no longer 'old' in that you could expect to live 20-30 more years, a 60 year old today is no faster or more agile than a 60 year old was 40 years ago. Yes medical science can keep us alive longer, but the ageing process has not been put on hold.

Matt77 · Apr 5, 2021

steveR said:
It is teh 2-3 other forklift operators before you.....

Yep fair point but it was home dressed so moved once into the barn from the cleaners then once on to the trailer, bag lifter again, but I get your point.

steveR · Apr 5, 2021

Clive said:
so maybe we need rules that MAKE us stop .? Hence my suggestion re max working hours in a 48hr period and 1 mandatory day off per week ?

I can hear the silage contractors howl from here....

But your idea does have a lot of merit, come across lads before now keeping going on Red Bulls, and knackered from 100+hrs weeks on tractors, which is plain stupid as well as being bloody dangerous.

simon-0116 · Apr 5, 2021

Clive said:
This industry has a tragic safety record, what can we all do that may improve this ?

lets use this thread for suggestions ? some maybe unpopular with others (I know mine will be !) but surely we can’t continue watching so many loose their life’s trying to produce a bit of food

my top 3 suggestions

1) no dogs in cabs ....... ever

2) ban big bags or at the very least any reuse of them

3) mandatory at least 1 day off per week, cap maximum working hours over a 48hr period

as I say I know the above would not be popular with all but if even 1 life is saved ....... all create challenges but I’m sure there are solutions

other suggestions please ?

Worked for a farmer who only worked 6 days a week. Religious reasons. Always got job done,

rusty · Apr 5, 2021

My tip is to get rid of any tow chains you have and replace the most with big tow straps.
We had an accident here while I was away for 2 days. An overloaded trailer got stuck and the lads got a chain and snatched it to try and get the trailer out. It came off, went through the back window and hit the driver on the back. It caused him to smash his head on the steering wheel and break his nose. He was lucky it didn't hit him on the back of the head. If a strap breaks the ricochet is far less dangerous.

Hilly · Apr 5, 2021

Global warming helps , let’s face it cold weather is good for bugger all imagine all the lives saved no snow ever again saving arable farmers ski ing accidents , global warming for safety ! Rev your engine .

Goweresque · Apr 5, 2021

Bloders said:
do you have figures for the age demographic for farmers?
the charts show more deaths in the 65+ bracket, but if thats the age of the majority of farmers, then that is to be expected. the numbers need to be "baselined" to say if age is relevant or not.

No the figures quoted are deaths per 100,000 of population, they are produced like that so you can compare across age groups.

Goweresque · Apr 5, 2021

topground said:
When you reach the age of 60 you will need to be reminded of this post.

I have every intention of being retired by the age of 60. Everything I do now is working towards that. I'm not daft enough to think that I can continue to do what I do now indefinitely, everyone needs a retirement plan, not just a 'I'll cross that bridge when I come to it' one.

Highland Mule · Apr 5, 2021

betweenthelines said:
3. The biggest problem for H & S in farming is attitude -can't afford it, haven't got time, only idiots have accidents, I've never had an accident-etc. etc. Until that changes nothing will get better.

Absolutely. And the forum members can help in two ways with this.

Point out when fellow members are being unsafe. Do it with tact, but never let an unsafe act be unchallenged.

Accept safety advice from others with grace. You may think you’re okay, but nobody likes being the boring safe one, so don’t make it hard for them. And take the advice on board too.

Fendt516profi · Apr 5, 2021

simon-0116 said:
Worked for a farmer who only worked 6 days a week. Religious reasons. Always got job done,

Livestock farm?

Bloders · Apr 5, 2021

Goweresque said:
No the figures quoted are deaths per 100,000 of population, they are produced like that so you can compare across age groups.

The figures here

are not compensated for the demographic for the workers, so my question remains.
What is the demograpghic of farm workers?

The lower chart is per 100,000 worlers, so that over the 5 years, the number remains valid as (i assume) the number of people working in the indutry changes.

Things that would improve farm safety ?

Member

Member

Member

Never Forgotten

Member

Never Forgotten

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

Share this page