Risk assessment/health and safety policy requirements for Red Tractor
- Thread starter ewald
- Start date
No they charge for it. You do get a big folder, but that is just the start really.
- Location
- East yorks
I read it with any farm with workers as previously it was if you had 5 or more they employ so as it’s me and dad and we don’t employ anyone I wasn’t doing it
You and your dad don’t do any work then?
It now requires a H&S policy to be in place regardless.
- Location
- East yorks
I would argue that terminology of the standard then is ambiguous.
as it says any farm with workers, if it is all farms the workers should not be mentioned and it should just say all farms
- Location
- East yorks
Taken from the what’s new document in red tractor
STAFF
Health and Safety is a key industry issue. By law, you must have a Health and Safety policy in writing if you have more than five employees.
PL.5
The new standard requires all farms with workers to have a written Health and Safety policy. All Red Tractor farms should have a simple, clear approach to managing Health and Safety which can be independently verified. Given farm fatality figures, this is an important area
of focus.
why say all farms with workers rather than all farms then
- Location
- Lincolnshire
So another nice little earner for them as a spin off from their scheme. What do NFU members actually get for the sub then?
Absolutely f**k all to do with food standards. Mission creep. I'm not doing any more. I don't actually need to be assured till next November. I'm prepared to argue and drag my heels over the next 10 months.
The sentence highlighted in red is also not ambiguous. You are welcome to try and argue it, but you will be wasting your breath.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
I tried the “no staff” argument but RT said I had to have a written policy for visitors.
Wasn’t that arduous. The signage cost a bit though.
- Location
- East yorks
In the end I will do the inspection and see what come of it, if they pull it up I will do it if not I won’t.
after last year getting pulled up for a change in the rules which supposedly had happened but hadn’t been published and I was supposed to abide by which is now not even in the new rules I have lost interest.
- Location
- Lincolnshire
It is absolutely mission creep, and shouldn’t be part of a food safety standard.
HSE is a sound idea but should not be within the remit of the RT inspector. Same as waste disposal and a host of other things they’ve added on but I’m over a barrel with 200 tons of wheat going in January so I’d no choice but to suck it up.
I’m a one man band and don’t employ anyone but I did fill out a template to tick a RT box, I got it from here.
Thanks for that. Cheap ( free ) and only 4 pages.
I just have to get my name changed by deed poll to John Daley now.........
betweenthelines
Member
- Location
- southwest
Every business should have a written H &S policy. I think it's a legal requirement if you have more than 5 employees, but I would say that for even a "one man band" farmer who will still have vets, contractors and numerous other people visiting the farm on "official" business, there should be a written Policy. Doesn't have to be long-wear PPE, be aware of machinery and livestock, don't go to certain areas without permission etc etc. but every visitor should sign or be given a copy.
Remember, legally you are responsible for anyone who is on your property so you need something in place even if it's just in case a Rep wanders around the yard and stands on a bit of wood with a nail in it!
Remember, legally you are responsible for anyone who is on your property so you need something in place even if it's just in case a Rep wanders around the yard and stands on a bit of wood with a nail in it!
- Location
- Carmarthenshire, West Wales
as for H & S, everyone has to have a policy and risk assessments, however they can quite legally be in an "unwritten format", the HSE did have some good templates on their website, I guess they are still there. If you have 4 or less employees, it does not need to be written, like wise risk assessments. The only thing that does need to be written is COSHH assessments, which entail getting manufacturer/supplier hazard data sheets, then undertaking an assessment based on that information. COSHH assessments are not only on things bought, but also on things created on the farm, eg dust from a grain drier, pigeon muck from old nests when painting/cleaning out eaves of sheds, also waste oil when servicing a tractor etc. Oh weils disease would be another I would want on a farm. By the way COSHH stands for control of substances hazardous to health.
- Location
- Carmarthenshire, West Wales
yes, but the law says the policy can be in an unwritten format, so policy is in place.