Preventing falls
What you need to do...
The law covers all work activities where people could fall and injure themselves. The duties are on employers, the self-employed and others who have control over work at height. You must make sure work at height is properly planned, supervised and carried out by people who are competent to do the job. The key issues are:
What you need to know...
Falls are the second highest cause of death in agriculture – every year at least eight people die falling from a height. Those who survive suffer broken bones and worse. Falls often happen from roofs, lofts, ladders, vehicles, bale stacks, and unsuitable access equipment, such as buckets. These accidents and injuries cause you pain and cost your farm time and money. Most fall injuries can be avoided.
The law says you need to follow these rules in this order:
- avoid work at height where you can; and if not
- use work equipment or measures to prevent falls; and if not
- use work equipment that minimises the distance and consequences of a fall.
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Working on roofs
- Most types of fibre cement roofs will be fragile. Roof lights will often also be fragile.
- No one must ever work on or from, or walk over, fragile roofs unless platforms, covers or similar are provided which will adequately support their weight.
- Always consider first whether it is really necessary to access the roof.
- Does the work need to be done, or could it be done in some other way, such as from below or from an integrated work platform?
- If you, your employees or contractors do need access roofs for any reason then always:
- plan the work;
- consider the weather;
- train and inform workers;
- never walk the purlins or stand on fragile materials;
- take precautions to prevent someone falling from ladders or boards.
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Working on vehicles
- Jumping down from vehicles is bad for your knees and you are likely to fall.
- Take your time climbing down from the cab and use the provided steps and handholds rather than the steering wheel.
- Plan loading and unloading to avoid the need to work at height on the vehicle.
- Wear well-fitting, slip-resistant safety footwear when working on vehicles.
- Ask for well-designed access when purchasing vehicles and think about how you will be able to get to the high parts of a machine to maintain it safely.
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Working with bales: loading trailers and stacking
- Many incidents (some fatal) involve loading bales on to the trailer, or during or after stacking. When loading, check that:
- trailer floors are in good condition and end racks or hay ladders are used;
- loads are built to bind themselves. Use sound bales for all edges;
- stackers keep away from the edges. Drivers should indicate clearly before the trailer is moved;
- full loads are secured before leaving the field and no one rides on them. Provide ladders for access to the load.
- Stacking is a skill, and requires trained, competent people.
- Inspect stacks regularly, and make sure destacking is done safely.
- A falling bale can kill, so keep people clear when unloading or destacking.
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Work platforms on fork-lift trucks
- If you need to raise people above the ground, eg for building maintenance, use properly designed work platforms rather than ladders.
- Never use grain buckets, pallets, or other makeshift equipment. Serious injuries and death have resulted from buckets tipping accidentally.
- For planned or regular work at height, you should use a fully integrated and properly constructed working platform. You should not normally use a non-integrated work platform
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Scaffolds
- Many tasks will be less hazardous if you do them from a properly designed and erected scaffold.
- Use competent and experienced workers to erect a scaffold, and make sure they are under the control of, and inspected regularly by, a competent person.
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Ladders
This ladder is placed on a board to prevent it sinking into soft ground and tied to stop it slipping.
- Ladders are not banned.
- However, you should never work from a ladder if there is a safer way of doing the job, eg by using a scaffold or suitable working platform.
- If the job is quick (minutes rather than hours) and simple, you can use a ladder.
- Always make sure the ladder:
- has level and firm footings;
- does not lean against a fragile surface (e.g. fibre cement gutters)
- is secured to prevent it slipping.
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