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

[Yale]

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

To be honest it actually makes the stack have a safe feel about it.

The first stack is manageable however when stacking and trying to get the fork out the whole column comes towards you until you shuttle back and forth and the spikes eventually come out and it falls back.

I would be hard pressed to be able to argue it was safely stacked.

The second stepped stack behaved differently in at no point did the bales want to fall towards the loader.

Having seen it work I will be stacking this years straw with steps.

The only difference will be an extra step to go an extra 2 bales high.

 

[Yale]

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?

However it’s where the buck stops.

If the local kids climb the stack and get killed by it being stacked dangerously then you are liable.

If they climb safely stacked bales and fall off then it is their own fault.

Which could you sleep at night with?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

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

Yes . No one will buy bales that are damp and dirty underneath, just like you would not expect anyone to buy mouldy grain .straw bales have been up to £80 each . With an inch of black on

 

[czechmate]

Yes . No one will buy bales that are damp and dirty underneath, just like you would not expect anyone to buy mouldy grain .straw bales have been up to £80 each . With an inch of black on

Yes I can see that and of course they will weigh more - my cows love it though. Maybe sheep wouldn’t?

 

[bluebell]

hasnt anyone ever had a stack go through the back of barn wall, especially if the sheets like the pic are, i have many years ago with rounds?

 

[Nearly]

However it’s where the buck stops.

If the local kids climb the stack and get killed by it being stacked dangerously then you are liable.

If they climb safely stacked bales and fall off then it is their own fault.

Which could you sleep at night with?

You'd probably be liable for both events.

2 bales high is a generalisation as usual to catch the headlines and make people think. If a 'square' bale is wider than it is high it's stable. If it's actually square then it's less stable.

Ever tried rolling a 4'x2' bale to the back of the shed to cut the bands?

I was offered £10 a tonnes less for my straw by a haulier because it was in 4 band bales. Fine, it stays here, safely, in the stack.

 

[glasshouse]

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

the rat house

 

[glasshouse]

4 high then a step to 8 high with quads is safe enough.

 

[Goweresque]

However it’s where the buck stops.

If the local kids climb the stack and get killed by it being stacked dangerously then you are liable.

If they climb safely stacked bales and fall off then it is their own fault.

Which could you sleep at night with?

I suspect that unless your stack was a) fenced off and/ or b) had a sign saying Do Not Climb then you'd be liable either way. Its the whole insane 'Duty of Care' nonsense, even to those there illegally. Hence why burglars who fall off roofs have sued the owner if there were no signs saying telling them not to, or protective railings.

 

[Yale]

I suspect that unless your stack was a) fenced off and/ or b) had a sign saying Do Not Climb then you'd be liable either way. Its the whole insane 'Duty of Care' nonsense, even to those there illegally. Hence why burglars who fall off roofs have sued the owner if there were no signs saying telling them not to, or protective railings.

So.....

....no fence.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

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.

Not trying to fall out at all, but the original post was about safety. It’s seldom that safety helps efficiency. That’s unless you take an injury into account which stops work altogether.

 

[Badshot]

The only thing I don't like is the bales leaning on the shed wall like that.
Could get quite a bit of weight on it, especially if you push the bales in tight constantly as filling the shed up.

 

[DeeGee]

So.....

View attachment 682826

....no fence.

What if the aspiring mountaineers can’t read?
Remember that you should also provide ramps for disabled climbers, as well as toilets for male, female and gender neutral visitors.

There should also be separate facilities to cater for the needs of LGBT, all ethnic groups and other minorities who may wish to enter your premises at any time without feeling that they are being victimised or in any way discriminated against.

 

[Tarw Coch]

What if the aspiring mountaineers can’t read?
Remember that you should also provide ramps for disabled climbers, as well as toilets for male, female and gender neutral visitors.

There should also be separate facilities to cater for the needs of LGBT, all ethnic groups and other minorities who may wish to enter your premises at any time without feeling that they are being victimised or in any way discriminated against.

It really should be no surprise that farmers are renowned for shouting “get orf my land”.................indeed it could be considered good advice.

 

[itsalwaysme]

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.

If that's who I think it is he was very lucky to survive

 

[Grassman]

Mine are all 80 x 90 so always stagger the stacks.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

So.....

View attachment 682826

....no fence.

I prefer to see them stepped, though would probably go 3 or 4 before stepping with quads. 80×80 or 90 are worse as stated above.
Only downside to stepping back in your scenario is they will take the weather along the front of the shed. I don't use an open fronted shed like that so not an issue.

 

[MB Trac]

Sorry, nothing to do with the original post. On one of the local dairies they were mixing feed one weekend, the two guys didn't want to do the extra work of using the loader tractor, so they pulled the mixer next to the bale stack and proceeded to push the bale (six string, big pack, hesston whatever you guys call it) in by hand while the mixer was running. Nobody knows exactly what happened, but the stack collapsed and one guy ended up on the ground with a bale on top of him, dead from a broken neck. And when the farmer eventually got there, all they could find of the other guy was little pieces of his clothing in the mixer, which was still running.

 

[hendrebc]

Sorry, nothing to do with the original post. On one of the local dairies they were mixing feed one weekend, the two guys didn't want to do the extra work of using the loader tractor, so they pulled the mixer next to the bale stack and proceeded to push the bale (six string, big pack, hesston whatever you guys call it) in by hand while the mixer was running. Nobody knows exactly what happened, but the stack collapsed and one guy ended up on the ground with a bale on top of him, dead from a broken neck. And when the farmer eventually got there, all they could find of the other guy was little pieces of his clothing in the mixer, which was still running.

bloody hell...

 

[devonshire farmer]

However it’s where the buck stops.

If the local kids climb the stack and get killed by it being stacked dangerously then you are liable.

If they climb safely stacked bales and fall off then it is their own fault.

Which could you sleep at night with?

My point is with a cris crossed stack which is safe and vertical they wouldn’t be able to get up there in the first place, I know what I will be doing but that’s just my opinion!