Bales...a step back...for safety.

[Yale]

Had a conversation with a HSE guy the other day and they are concerned with the number of accidents involving stacked bales which fall.

He indicated there should be no more than two bales without a step back.

Moving some bales today I had a bit of a play to try safer stacking.

First photo is how we normally stack.

This second photo is more what is thought of as being safer.

Will you be safer stacking this harvest?

 

[P.O.T]

Surely square bales aren't really an issue. Rounds are alot less stable. Common sense seems to be the problem with alot of stacks, and people keeping people well away when any stacking or unstacking is going on.

 

[mo!]

Surely square bales aren't really an issue. Rounds are alot less stable. Common sense seems to be the problem with alot of stacks, and people keeping people well away when any stacking or unstacking is going on.

Rounds are much more stable as long as you don't stack on the flat side. The issue we have with squares is getting the spikes out six bales up. If we had a proper handler it would be a doddle. The second pic does look better but I doubt our machine would have the reach.

 

[devonshire farmer]

That stack is probably safer granted but also much easier for the local kids to climb up and fall from a great height so in the grand scheme of things with it being quadrants too is it really a good idea?

 

[RushesToo]

Had a conversation with a HSE guy the other day and they are concerned with the number of accidents involving stacked bales which fall.

He indicated there should be no more than two bales without a step back.

Moving some bales today I had a bit of a play to try safer stacking.

First photo is how we normally stack.

View attachment 682676

This second photo is more what is thought of as being safer.

View attachment 682678

Will you be safer stacking this harvest?

@Yale what did you think having done it? - proof of concept is what actually counts.

 

[Lazy Eric]

The bale size called mini Hesstons, they should be banned. They are lethal in stacks if slightly complacent.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

4 string bales are a nightmare for falling back but 6 string will fall back as well if you stack to high and straight ,

 

[Tarw Coch]

Lots of variables, larger bales tend to make more stable stacks than smaller ones. Crop/bale density also make a difference good solid bales are much less likely to move and as a generalisation straw will make a better bale than hay.
Stack height will also make a difference, 8 high will be less stable than 4.

 

[hendrebc]

When we did a lot of squares we always used to stack like the first picture but would always leave half height at the front. When we wanted another bale we would always take from the top of the second row first then tske the front row after taking a bale or two from the top of the second so there was always a step. It was as much so we could climb up to throw wads down to the cattle as much as it was for safety but it was a lot more stable. Still do it with the few straw bales we buy in too.
I have had a stack of bales very nearly fall on me and a friend when i was helping on a farm. Our boss was using the telehandler and we wanted a bale of hay for some ewes so we just backed a trailer we had on the tractor to the stack and the 2 of us rolled it over onto the trailer as the bale was the same height as the bale was on the stack. Wed done it plenty of times before no problems... The row behind fell over onto the trailer one bounced and knocked me to the ground a bit winded and my friend got hit on the head and trapped under another bale that bounced back. I managed to push the bale off him and he came away with a headache and a nosebleed. We were both very very lucky. Its not something i want to see again it might not be such a good outcome next time

 

[Kidds]

A falling round bale broke neighbours neck.
And to all those out there thinking it won't happen to them, he thought the same thing.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

It's to do with pressure .if you push them in tight they will come over if more than 4 high . The floor friction will hold the bottom bales but the pressure in the stack will force the top ones back . Leave the bottom bale slight slack and Let the stack lean In a little

 

[YorkshireAndrew]

I always stack round hay bales on end stepped in for the first three courses then the top one on the ‘flat’ to stop movement .

 

[milkloss]

I’m so sure I would be happy with that method of stacking. We have a grab on the telehandler that moves square bales in three’s and a tractor loader that moves in two’s so steps are not compatible in our situation. With straight stacks both machines can work efficiently and with less bale shuffling which itself is creating a hazard.

 

[Hesston4860s]

Always go 9 high straight up with quads and then half bale 5 more on top, I’d go higher but can’t reach !.
When I was doing mini Hesstons I went 8 high straight up and half bale 4 more on top.
Never had a problem yet.

 

[DeeGee]

Stacking square haylage today and I stepped back half a bale after two layers and another half back befor the fourth.

Probably far too cautious but I wasn’t too happy with three up without being locked. I know many will go far higher with no problems but we have a DIY livery yard here, and a five year old grandson who might one day be just too near to an unstable stack at the wrong time.

Better safe than forever sorry.

 

[eagleye]

good safe way off stacking haylage above

 

[cattleman123]

Had a conversation with a HSE guy the other day and they are concerned with the number of accidents involving stacked bales which fall.

He indicated there should be no more than two bales without a step back.

Moving some bales today I had a bit of a play to try safer stacking.

First photo is how we normally stack.

View attachment 682676

This second photo is more what is thought of as being safer.

View attachment 682678

Will you be safer stacking this harvest?

Looks a nice bit of hay

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Nice to see he's put pallets under as well

 

[Yale]

Nice to see he's put pallets under as well View attachment 682746

Always put pallets under hay so they were close by to carry on with the straw.

Generally don’t bother under the straw unless it’s near the outside where a bit of water could get underneath.

 

[czechmate]

Nice to see he's put pallets under as well View attachment 682746

Funny you say that but then your only interest is buying/selling, not using. I don’t and the bottom ones generally don’t look the best when it comes to using them but the cows actually love that damp bit that’s been on the ground