7 readers’ top safety tips
This week marks Farm Safety Week to highlight the issue of death and injury on Britain’s farms.
The latest Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics show that farming is still the most dangerous occupation, with 33 workers and four members of the public killed on farms in Britain between April 2014 and March 2015.
To help raise awareness of the dangers, we’ve compiled some of our best readers’ safety tips, containing ingenious solutions to common problems.
Read the tips below and click on the titles to read the full article.
“When towing a trailer put tennis balls on to the hooks on the ends of the tractor’s lift arms, making it impossible for them to grab the brake pipe and trailer lights cable. They fit perfectly.” Keith Harrop, Derbyshire
© Image Source/Rex
“If you are working on a machine, and are somewhere you may not been seen, always put the ignition key in your pocket to avoid anyone starting the machine, without realising you are inside. It is so doable and costs you nothing, but it could save your life.” Robert Davies, Herefordshire
© FLPA/John Eveson/Rex
3. Use alkathene pipe as a distance guide
“When I was learning to drive a tractor, gauging how far forward the weights reached was difficult. As tractors generally get bigger, visibility in front of the bonnet is reduced, therefore my farm safety tip is to put a piece of alkathene pipe in the weights to see where the front is.” Dewi Davies, Ceredigion
“Buy a cheap roll of reflective sticky tape which can be wrapped around gate posts, uprights and doors to make them more visible in the dark.” John Prior, Wiltshire
© Design Pics Inc/Rex
5. Turn off radio when reversing
“When reversing a trailer around the yard or into a building, turn off the radio and open the rear window so you can hear any shouted warnings.” Ben Machen, Hampshire
© Tim Scrivener
6. Check in on a mobile phone when working alone
“I think making a call to alert family members or co-workers before undertaking any task in isolation should be a first step in task planning on farms.” Charles Hurst, Worcestershire
© FLPA/Rex
“Stop and stand back and think for a minute, can I do this any better or more safely? For example: Should I stack bales under that roof before going on top?” Tim Ransome, Lincolnshire
© Tim Scrivener