Every year there are a number of serious incidents involving round bales of hay, straw or silage. Last year, a member of the public sustained fatal injuries when the van he was driving was struck by a round bale that had rolled down a hillside during baling work. A revised agricultural information sheet is now available suggesting reasonably practicable measures that can be taken by farmers, baler operators and contractors to reduce the risks to themselves and the public, particularly where baling work has to be carried out on slopes.
For further information on safe use of big round balers, please see the HSE Agriculture Information Sheet No 4.
