Health and safety

[Highland Mule]

“Can’t afford safety” is never acceptable, I’m afraid - morally or legally. If you can’t afford to do it safely, then don’t do it at all.

If it’s a hobby and you enjoy doing it, then spend the cash. If you can’t afford to do your hobby safely, don’t do it.

 

[thesilentone]

Well after a lifetime in Agriculture, some things never change.

All the pontificating, excuses and bxllxxit on here make one thing absolutely clear, the shocking death rate in our Industry is unlikely to change anytime soon.

It is no coincidence that the most profitable farmers are those who have health & safety at the top of the agenda. That attention to detail is consistent across there whole business, whether it be Milking Cows, Finishing Lambs, Growing Veg etc, etc, etc.

So, doing a better job is more profitable, simple really.

Sadly due to the attitude of a few, there is no doubt H&S will be enforced upon us in a much more rigorous manner than ever before, the same ones will start crying about form filling, additional cost, men with clipboards etc, etc.

But, what the hell do you expect ??

 

[multi power]

How about using a shedder to separate them? Or feed them through the locking feed barrier and release one half and then the other? Or, since you highlight one breed in particular, maybe having cattle that are not so wild? The task can be designed safely, if you try hard enough.



They still do risk assessment and task design, and certainly wouldn’t go into a dangerous situation unless another life depended on it. Are you really trying to compare the (over) production of a commodity to one of the emergency services? Nobody will die if you or I stop farming!

FFS have you ever been in the real world ?

 

[roscoe erf]

' fraid it is a hobby, whilst we're being paid 1970's prices. Farming related accidents would halve, if we received 21st Century prices. There's only a limit to what small farmers can spend on it each year. I've blown this years budget on a bunded fuel tank ( money could have been better spent elsewhere, but hey-ho ). What other industry attempts to repair it's own buildings, works with dangerous animals, and fudges about with 30 year old machinery ?. Folks on here won't have it though. And there's probably a small percentage who will undertake dangerous practice, even if they were millionaires. Can't legislate for stupid, although we're doing our damnedest in this country.

the death rate in agriculture has fallen dramatically since the 70's and is now running at a steady rate per year so maybe its plateaued but comparing us with other industries is hardly comparable when as already stated and backed up by hse the numbers now include waste management fisheries forestry children and members of the public with nearly half the figures being the over 65's ,we all do a risk assessment every day regardless of the comments on here we just don't need being talked down to by so Called experts on here who think they know a better way as no 2 farms are the same.

 

[Highland Mule]

If “we all do risk assessment every day”, then how are people getting killed?

Fall off combine whilst washing window - just what RA would conclude that climbing up was safer than using a brush on a stick?

Running child over in yard - why would you allow kids into an industrial workzone, where you operate tractors with inadequate vision?

Swallowed by bailer whilst clearing pickup reel with engine running - do I need to ask?

I’m betting for every death in agriculture, there’s been a severe failing in risk assessment and a simple solution could have prevented that death. Even the one with the public footpath going past a tractor reversing without rear vision - the farmer must have known he had a blind spot, yet wasn’t prepared to invest £50 or so in a camera?

It’s not rocket science, and it doesn’t need to cost money to fix it, but the deaths will continue as long as the complacency that’s shown here continues too.

FFS have you ever been in the real world ?

You don’t have locking feed barriers? I’d have thought that would be the easiest way to split the herd, and would minimise the risk of being hurt too.

 

[7610 super q]

Well after a lifetime in Agriculture, some things never change.

All the pontificating, excuses and bxllxxit on here make one thing absolutely clear, the shocking death rate in our Industry is unlikely to change anytime soon.

It is no coincidence that the most profitable farmers are those who have health & safety at the top of the agenda. That attention to detail is consistent across there whole business, whether it be Milking Cows, Finishing Lambs, Growing Veg etc, etc, etc.

So, doing a better job is more profitable, simple really.

Sadly due to the attitude of a few, there is no doubt H&S will be enforced upon us in a much more rigorous manner than ever before, the same ones will start crying about form filling, additional cost, men with clipboards etc, etc.

But, what the hell do you expect ??

Same old f**king sh!t about the " the best farmers do this, the best farmers do that....".
We're all getting 1970's prices ( well the arable guys are, and I presume reading the beef job's on it's knees type threads, other sectors are the same )
So I guess what you really mean is, those who happen to have 1000's of acres, and 1000's of cows are " more profitable ".
As I said, those on a small scale have to prioritise, and spend wisely. This year it's a bunded tank, next year I might treat myself to a cherry picker.
Why do you bother carrying on farming , I hear the ignorant cry. Well, I live in a nice house, in a nice part of the world, and I want to continue doing so.

Double produce prices, and there's more money for everyone to spend on health & safety. Accept the glaringly obvious, or be a prune. Your choice.

 

[YorkshireAndrew]

I’ve always maintained that a large percentage of farm accidents could be avoided .

 

[puppet]

Sadly all the above were probably avoidable by using some proper equipment or just taking another route to get a job done

 

[7610 super q]

Hmmm..... ATV's, and building repairs. As I said, what other industry attempts it's own building repairs.....and why ?
Quite how you drown yourself strimming, or bleed to death from a barbed wire cut has me stumped though.

 

[thesilentone]

Same old fudgeing sh!t about the " the best farmers do this, the best farmers do that....".
We're all getting 1970's prices ( well the arable guys are, and I presume reading the beef job's on it's knees type threads, other sectors are the same )
So I guess what you really mean is, those who happen to have 1000's of acres, and 1000's of cows are " more profitable ".
As I said, those on a small scale have to prioritise, and spend wisely. This year it's a bunded tank, next year I might treat myself to a cherry picker.
Why do you bother carrying on farming , I hear the ignorant cry. Well, I live in a nice house, in a nice part of the world, and I want to continue doing so.

Double produce prices, and there's more money for everyone to spend on health & safety. Accept the glaringly obvious, or be a prune. Your choice.

I know, the truth hurts, you don't need 1000's of acres to have a positive attitude to safety, or pay a fortune. It's called doing the job right. However I will not be part of any argument that tries to justify a rather childish attitude to farm safety. In today's farming there is zero comparison to the 1970's, and had you been doing business at that time, you would understand why.

As I said, the truth hurts, and my advice to you would be pack in, sell up and get a clip board, some shiny shoes and have an easy life.

 

[Highland Mule]

Hmmm..... ATV's, and building repairs. As I said, what other industry attempts it's own building repairs.....and why ?
Quite how you drown yourself strimming, or bleed to death from a barbed wire cut has me stumped though.

Why? As a result of inadequate risk assessment and an inappropriate 'JFDI' attitude. Are there any of the deaths listed that could not have been prevented for £50 and a bit more thought?

 

[TheTallGuy]

Hmmm..... ATV's, and building repairs. As I said, what other industry attempts it's own building repairs.....and why ?
Quite how you drown yourself strimming, or bleed to death from a barbed wire cut has me stumped though.

Quite possible to bleed out from a lacerated leg - especially if you are unfortunate enough to nick the femoral artery or one of its branches. As for the drowning - maybe he over balanced whilst working on the slope of a bank,or was over-reaching with the strimmer & lost balance?

 

[Daniel]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7257923/Turn-phone-addicts-WILD-water-babies.html

I hugely admire the Owen's approach to raising their children, teach them the basics but don't wrap them in cotton wool.

 

[multi power]

If “we all do risk assessment every day”, then how are people getting killed?

Fall off combine whilst washing window - just what RA would conclude that climbing up was safer than using a brush on a stick?

Running child over in yard - why would you allow kids into an industrial workzone, where you operate tractors with inadequate vision?

Swallowed by bailer whilst clearing pickup reel with engine running - do I need to ask?

I’m betting for every death in agriculture, there’s been a severe failing in risk assessment and a simple solution could have prevented that death. Even the one with the public footpath going past a tractor reversing without rear vision - the farmer must have known he had a blind spot, yet wasn’t prepared to invest £50 or so in a camera?

It’s not rocket science, and it doesn’t need to cost money to fix it, but the deaths will continue as long as the complacency that’s shown here continues too.



You don’t have locking feed barriers? I’d have thought that would be the easiest way to split the herd, and would minimise the risk of being hurt too.

In my experience self locking barriers are a great way to get injured ! Having to go right in front of a cow to release the latch is a pretty dangerous idea
Separating out cattle isn't too difficult or dangerous for a young, fit alert and skilled operator, but an altogether different matter for someone older and less fast and alert

 

[Highland Mule]

In my experience self locking barriers are a great way to get injured ! Having to go right in front of a cow to release the latch is a pretty dangerous idea
Separating out cattle isn't too difficult or dangerous for a young, fit alert and skilled operator, but an altogether different matter for someone older and less fast and alert

Have never used locking barriers in anger but tried them out at shows. My cattle aren't inside, but are shed down a race if needed (and are very tame and slow, so no need for prompt reflexes). If your barriers aren't the answer then do they need a re-design? Any I have played with haven't given me the impression of being a hazard.

 

[7610 super q]

Quite possible to bleed out from a lacerated leg - especially if you are unfortunate enough to nick the femoral artery or one of its branches. As for the drowning - maybe he over balanced whilst working on the slope of a bank,or was over-reaching with the strimmer & lost balance?

I was thinking heart attack maybe ? Anything's possible. And can't legislate for everything.

 

[multi power]

Have never used locking barriers in anger but tried them out at shows. My cattle aren't inside, but are shed down a race if needed (and are very tame and slow, so no need for prompt reflexes). If your barriers aren't the answer then do they need a re-design? Any I have played with haven't given me the impression of being a hazard.

What we need is to spend money on staff and facilities and then pass the cost on, just like other industries

 

[roscoe erf]

If “we all do risk assessment every day”, then how are people getting killed?

Fall off combine whilst washing window - just what RA would conclude that climbing up was safer than using a brush on a stick?

Running child over in yard - why would you allow kids into an industrial workzone, where you operate tractors with inadequate vision?

Swallowed by bailer whilst clearing pickup reel with engine running - do I need to ask?

I’m betting for every death in agriculture, there’s been a severe failing in risk assessment and a simple solution could have prevented that death. Even the one with the public footpath going past a tractor reversing without rear vision - the farmer must have known he had a blind spot, yet wasn’t prepared to invest £50 or so in a camera?

It’s not rocket science, and it doesn’t need to cost money to fix it, but the deaths will continue as long as the complacency that’s shown here continues too.



You don’t have locking feed barriers? I’d have thought that would be the easiest way to split the herd, and would minimise the risk of being hurt too.

can you not do a risk assessment and it still go to sh!t or is that the be all and end all to accidents

 

[Highland Mule]

What we need is to spend money on staff and facilities and then pass the cost on, just like other industries

What costs though? Pretty much all the accidents above could have been prevented for very little money indeed. A window cleaning brush on a stick would not exactly break the bank, would it? Using the round baler door prop would have been free. From my side, I have to say that it reads like you're looking for the problems rather than the solutions.

 

[roscoe erf]

What costs though? Pretty much all the accidents above could have been prevented for very little money indeed. A window cleaning brush on a stick would not exactly break the bank, would it? Using the round baler door prop would have been free. From my side, I have to say that it reads like you're looking for the problems rather than the solutions.

you seem to know a lot about the cleaning a combine accident from the little information posted I think you are jumping to conclusions how far did he fall was he on the bottom step or up at the top