Safe use of rotary flail hedge cutters
Agriculture Information Sheet No 21
HSE information sheet
Introduction
This information sheet outlines the main dangers of tractor
mounted rotary flail hedge cutters and lists the essential dos
and don'ts for their safe operation.
HSE has investigated a number of accidents, including three
fatalities, involving hedge cutters and knows of many near miss
incidents. Risk assessment for this type of machine shows many
dangers that could result in serious injury to the operator or
other people.
All users of rotary flail hedge cutters need to identify the
dangers caused by their hedge cutters and make sure anyone
working with them knows and follows safe working practices to
prevent accidents and serious injuries.
Significant dangers
Injuries to the operator and others can be caused by:
- being hit by thrown debris;
- being hit by ejected machine parts;
- getting caught on the power take-off (PTO) shaft;
- getting caught in other moving parts (such as cutting head
parts, belt and pulleys etc);
- the machine coming into contact with overhead power lines
(OHPLs)
- being hit by the cutting head or machine arm as it
moves;
- being trapped between the machine and the tractor when
hitching or unhitching;
- the tractor overbalancing when the machine arm is
extended;
- injection of high pressure oil from damaged hydraulic hoses
or couplings;
- the machine overbalancing when free standing (out of
use);
- road traffic accidents due to collisions or debris on the
road.
Dos and Don'ts
Do:
- make sure the operator is properly trained to use the
machine;
- make sure the operator reads, understands and follows the
instruction handbook;
- make sure the tractor rear and side(s) are fitted with
metal mesh or polycarbonate guards of a size/strength specified
by the hedge cutter manufacturer to protect the operator
against thrown debris or parts;
- make sure that the tractor mesh/polycarbonate guards are
suitable for the job, undamaged and maintained in accordance
with the manufacturer's instructions;
- make sure all hedge cutter guards and safety devices are in
position, correctly fitted and maintained in accordance with
the manufacturer's recommendations;
- make sure flails and their fixings are of the type
recommended by the manufacturer, securely attached, and that
none of the flails are missing or damaged;
- make sure hydraulic pipes are carefully routed to avoid
damage;
- follow the manufacturer's instructions for hitching or
unhitching the machine from the tractor;
- check that machine fittings and couplings are in good
condition;
- make sure the tractor is at least the minimum weight
recommended by the hedge cutter manufacturer. Use ballast as
necessary;
- inspect the hedge before starting to cut and remove wire,
bottles, cans and other debris;
- use warning signs to alert others to the hedge cutting
operation if necessary;
- work at a safe speed taking account of conditions (such as
terrain, highway proximity, obstacles, etc);
- make sure the operator is protected from noise,
particularly by keeping the tractor cab windows closed. Hedge
cutter controls should be routed through proprietary openings
in the cab;
- use safe practices when work needs to be done near OHPLs.
Find out the height of powerlines and the reach of the machine
arm. Always allow enough clearance to avoid flashover -
Agricultural Information Sheet No 8 has further details;
- disengage the machine, stop the tractor and pocket the key
before dismounting for any reason. HSE's publication
Tractor Action has further details on safe driving
practice;
- make sure the machine is left in a stable position when it
is removed from the tractor, using any stands or props
provided, and securing it if necessary;
- clear up debris after cutting if it could be a hazard to
others.
Don't:
- use a hedge cutter if you have not been trained to do
so;
- use a machine until you have familiarised yourself with,
and practised with, the controls;
- use a poorly maintained machine;
- use the machine if guards are missing or damaged;
- use the machine if the hydraulic system shows any sign of
wear or damage;
- use the machine if the tractor side(s) and rear are not
provided with metal mesh or polycarbonate sheet guarding or
protective glazing:
- use the machine if the tractor polycarbonate or mesh guards
are damaged or deteriorating;
- angle the cutting head so that debris is ejected towards
the cab;
- start cutting or continue to cut if other people are nearby
or approaching;
- attempt to cut material which is too big for the
machine;
- operate the tractor controls from any position other than
the driving seat especially when hitching/unhitching the
machine;
- carry out maintenance with the tractor engine running;
- carry out maintenance on the hedge cutter with the cutting
arm raised unless the arm is properly supported;
- allow children on or near the tractor or machine.
Other considerations
Training
Operators need to be competent and capable of operating the
tractor-hedge cutter combination. Ensure that any operator is
trained in the safe and efficient use of the machine. Make use of
relevant training courses such as those run by ATB-Landbase,
agricultural colleges, manufacturers and dealers.
Roadside hedges
Particular care is needed if hedge cutting is taking place
along a road. Consider other road users (vehicles, cyclists,
pedestrians, horse riders, etc). Stop the machine immediately if
anyone is in danger of being hit by thrown debris. Warn people to
stand clear of any danger zone.
Warning signs
Risk assessment and good practice indicate that work should be
kept within an area covered by warning signs of a size and type
specified by the Department of Transport (DoT). Any signs used
should be positioned in accordance with DoT and Local Highways
Authority guidelines.
Non-authorised placement of road signs may create offences
under the Highways Act
You should contact your Local Highways Authority advising them
of the time and location of intended work asking what is required
by way of signs and procedure. The following guidelines may be
helpful (remember Local Highways Authority consent is still
required):
- Signs required:
- "Road works ahead" warning
sign with supplementary "Hedge
cutting" plate. "For 1
mile" or appropriate shorter distance may be
added to the plate:-
- "Road narrows" warning sign
with supplementary "Single file
traffic" plate:-
- White on blue "keep right"
arrow sign on tractor rear.
- on two way roads one set of signs is needed facing traffic
in each direction;
- work should be within one mile of the signs;
- work only in good visibility and during periods of low risk
(eg, not during rush-hour);
- vehicles should have a flashing beacon;
- ideally vehicles should be conspicuously coloured;
- clear debris from paths and roads as soon as practicable,
wearing high visibility clothing while on the road, still
working within signs;
- collect all road signs promptly after the job is
finished.
Note:
- Additional signing will be required by the Local Highways
Authority where junctions enter the road along which the work
is taking place or the road is a high speed dual
carriageway.
- The Local Highways Authority may require debris to be
cleared within a specified time after work is completed.
Leaving any debris may create offences under the Highways
Act.
Refer to your Local Highways Authority for further information
on these points.
Legal
Employers and the self-employed must ensure that people
carrying out work under their control are suitably trained and
competent to do so. Employers and the self-employed have a duty
to assess the risks to themselves and others affected by their
work and to take appropriate steps to ensure the health and
safety of themselves and others. Employees also have duties to
ensure their own health and safety and that of others.
Manufacturers and suppliers have responsibilities to ensure
that any machine they supply is safe. In addition, for machines
manufactured since 1 January 1995, the manufacturer should
declare that the machine complies with the relevant Essential
Health and Safety Requirements of the Supply of Machinery
(Safety) Regulations 1992. The manufacturer should ensure that
the machine has an instruction handbook, a declaration of
conformity and is marked with a CE mark.
Further information
Further information on the signing of road work can be found
in the Department of Transport Code of Practice Safety at
street works and road works HMSO 1992 ISBN 0 11 551144 X
Information on safe tractor driving is available in HSE's
booklet Tractor Action HSE Books 1995 IND(G) 185 Leaflet INDG185(rev1) HSE Books 2003 (single copy free or priced packs of 10 ISBN 0 7176 2711 X) Web version: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg185.pdf.
Information on safe working near overhead powerlines is available in Working safely near overhead power lines Agriculture Information Sheet AIS8(rev2) HSE Books 2000
If you need further information or advice please contact your
local HSE office. The phone number is listed in directories under
Health and Safety Executive.
HSE priced and free publications are available by mail order
from:
HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 6FS Tel: 01787
881165; Fax: 01787 313995.
Website: www.hsebooks.co.uk (HSE priced publications are also available from bookshops and free leaflets can be downloaded from HSE’s website: www.hse.gov.uk.)
For information about health and safety ring HSE's Infoline Tel: 0845 345 0055 Fax: 0845 408 9566 Textphone: 0845 408 9577 e-mail: hse.infoline@natbrit.com or write to HSE Information Services, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.
This document contains notes on good practice which are not compulsory but which you may find helpful in considering what you need to do.
This document is available at: http://hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais21.htm.
© Crown copyright This publication may be freely reproduced, except for advertising, endorsement or commercial purposes. First published 11/96. Please acknowledge the source as HSE.
Printed and published by HSE 11/96 AIS 21 C300
Added to the HSE website on 20 April 1998