Rolling back silage pit sheets

[Scholsey]

Anyone else bother? We always have and don’t mind doing it at all but just watching 2 lads taking the tyres off now and thinking health and safety wise, how are you supposed to risk assess it?

15ft in the middle, obviously no barrier, working few feet from the edge. If someone fell off would it be a prison/ hundreds of thousands fine job?

 

[pappuller]

Do it out of man basket, pull tyres off onto floor, cut sheet from basket but needs 2 people, I don't trust maize clamps as much as grass

 

[ploughman1963]

I think the point you make is very valid and I suspect if a serious injury or death occurred, your guess at the result is probably correct. I have thought about making a barrier that fits on the telehandler that I could put up against the face and then go up and cut the sheet - move along and repeat. Man cage is a no-no due to needing 2 people and 6 monthly inspections for me.

 

[Zippy768]

Do people just cut the sheet off?
Always roll back, then can be used again for side sheets.

 

[ploughman1963]

Do people just cut the sheet off?
Always roll back, then can be used again for side sheets.

My silage pits have sleeper walls - I wouldnt compromise/risk silage losses by re-using a sheet costing £90 when my organic silage is worth £45 + per tonne

 

[Scholsey]

I was told a man basket is fine for in a emergency but not suitable for planned/routine jobs, would need a hire a cherry picker to roll your sheets back.

 

[pappuller]

I was told a man basket is fine for in a emergency but not suitable for planned/routine jobs, would need a hire a cherry picker to roll your sheets back.

We'll use the handler bucket then [emoji23]

 

[pappuller]

I was told a man basket is fine for in a emergency but not suitable for planned/routine jobs, would need a hire a cherry picker to roll your sheets back.

Much rather a man basket that tripping over tyres a meter from a 15' drop

 

[bigw]

Do people just cut the sheet off?
Always roll back, then can be used again for side sheets.

Always cut ours off, the wind here would make it impossible to keep it rolled tidy.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Always rolled them back.
In fact I didn't even realize cutting them was a thing till I read it on here somewhere.
I get 60+mph winds, so I've never bought that reasoning either.

Some folk must be made of money?.

 

[Horn&corn]

Push tyres and netting back grab depth with grab. Then cut sheet and top block with block cutter. Drop down and remove sheet before checking for mould and putting in mixer. Remove tyres once gets too much to sort 3wks ish

 

[bigw]

Always rolled them back.
In fact I didn't even realize cutting them was a thing till I read it on here somewhere.
I get 60+mph winds, so I've never bought that reasoning either.

Some folk must be made of money?.

We have a cut face with tire rings covering it the whole way back and the wind has lifted the sheet at the face. Some people here have pit mats with the holes in them and have to tie them together or weight them with concrete blocks as they will blow off!!

 

[puppet]

Tyres back first, top sheet rolled back then second one. We re-use at least one again if no holes.
However on a frosty morning not the best place to be. Safer with one foot on sheet and other on the silage as the shear grab leaves it firm.
There have been deaths by falling off a pit.

 

[Bald Rick]

Innovate ....

 

[jondear]

My silage pits have sleeper walls - I wouldnt compromise/risk silage losses by re-using a sheet costing £90 when my organic silage is worth £45 + per tonne

I use last year's top sheet for side sheets .perfect condition under cover sheet roll back cut in half .Any rolled sheet that doesn't get used for sides used for covering outside dung heaps.

 

[Sharpy]

I use last year's top sheet for side sheets .perfect condition under cover sheet roll back cut in half .Any rolled sheet that doesn't get used for sides used for covering outside dung heaps.

You cover dung heaps? What are the benefits?

 

[Netherfield]

Got to be careful up there, I recall stores arriving unexpectedly and needing feeding, the clamp was needing the sheet taking back, I climbed up on top from behind, but had left the loader with grab open in front.

Moved a few tyres back and rolled back the sheet a little and then slipped, and for dear life I was scrambling , because all I could see and imaging was the bottom tines on the grab going straight through me, after some time of being run along the concrete they where so pointed and sharp.

Lesson learned that day.

 

[Scholsey]

Anything smaller than a badminton court gets dragged out, folded up 7 decent sized sheets from a 75 x 45 pit this morning ready to go back on in May all being well.

 

[vantage]

Push tyres and netting back grab depth with grab. Then cut sheet and top block with block cutter. Drop down and remove sheet before checking for mould and putting in mixer. Remove tyres once gets too much to sort 3wks ish

I push everything back with the manitou bucket, then on a nice day with a bit of time I pull the nets and rings down with the bucket , on to the pit floor. Yes, probably not best practice , but when it’s dark , wet and blowing a hooley, I’m not about to go up , slip and injure myself.

 

[Chae1]

Farmer we know died falling off silage pit.

We just cut it now. Saves going close to edge.