Farming
Working in farming
There is a wide range of hazards involved in farm work, but careful attention to health and safety issues can significantly reduce the personal, social and financial cost of accidents.
The four most common areas giving rise to health and safety concerns in farming are:
- vehicles and machinery
- falls from height
- lifting and handling
- hazardous substances
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has produced an essential booklet – ‘ The Farmwise Guide’ (PDF document, 1678KB) – which covers the legal obligations, recommendations for good practice, hints and tips, and safeguards to minimise the risks around the farm. You may also wish to download the HSE’s Self Assessment software to assess your own business.
The HSE recommends that if you are involved in farming, either as an employer, employee or self employed, you should carry an up to date health carry card.
Vehicles and machinery
Incidents related to tractors and other farm machinery account for the majority of all fatal accidents in agriculture and forestry and the most common causes of these accidents are often the simplest and cheapest to rectify.
The Health and Safety Executive has published a number of booklets containing practical advice on avoiding agricultural transport incidents.
In particular, the booklet ‘ Tractor Action’ (PDF document, 299KB) is a step-by-step guide to the safe use of tractors and tractor mounted machinery. There are also a number of leaflets covering specific farm machinery, including mowers, round balers, combine harvesters, foragers, potato harvesters and flail cutters.
Separate leaflets cover safety issues for operators, covering the need for seat restraints and specific guidance for carrying passengers on farm trailers.
Special care should also be taken when working near overhead power lines.
Falls from height
One in twenty reported injuries on farms are related to falling from or through a fragile roof. The HSE ‘s leaflet, ‘Preventing falls from fragile roofs in agriculture’ (PDF document, 21KB) , highlights the risks and the precautions that you can take to avoid injury
Common factors include the use of inappropriate or defective access equipment and failing to use equipment safely. You are also advised to refer to the sub-section on roofs on the farm buildings page of this site.
Ladders should only be used for low-risk, short-duration work, or when it is impossible to use safer methods of working at height.
Arrangements should be taken to stop the ladder slipping. This may include tying the ladder at the top or bottom or using an effective anti-slip device.
The Health and Safety Executive website includes a section dedicated to minimising risks when using ladders.
Lifting and handling
Manual handling, for example lifting heavy bags or boxes, should be avoided if possible and appropriate machinery, such as a forklift, used instead.
All on-farm lifting should be planned using safe equipment operated by a competent person.
Guidance covering lifting operations and lifting equipment is outlined in the information sheet LOLER: How the regulations apply to agriculture - LOLER: Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 .
Seat belts or lap straps should be used when working with raised loads or attachments, especially on rough terrain or slopes. They must be fitted to mobile equipment where there is a risk of rollover and where the driver could be trapped underneath.
In particular, special steps must be taken to minimise the risk of injury while handling and stacking bales in agriculture. Where manual handling is undertaken, back, neck and limb disorders are the most common types of ill health experienced.
There are a number of measures that farmers can take – together with other steps – to reduce the likelihood of suffering back or muscle problems.
Measures to reduce health risks are highlighted in the booklet Manual Handling Solutions for Farms.
In addition, the Watch your Back leaflet details steps that can be taken to avoid back strain during timber handling and chainsaw work.
Hazardous substances
Agricultural work means you can come into close proximity to a number of hazardous substances.
Particular caution should be taken when working with pesticides and rodenticides and the HSE’s leaflets - Agricultural pesticides and the Safe use of rodenticides on farms and holdings - offer guidance on these.
Further special guidance is available regarding the Gassing of rabbits and other such pests on farms.
It is also important that if you have been harmed by exposure to pesticides or any veterinary medicines you must report it. Also, if you know of a case in which other people, animals or the environment have been harmed you should also report it. The HSE’s leaflet Reporting incidents of exposure to pesticides and veterinary medicines explains the details you will need to report, and the relevant authorities that should be contacted.
The law requires that pesticides should be used safely, with special regard paid to the well-being of pesticide users and their health.
You should also refer to the Defra advice page on pesticides.
Other areas where particular care should be taken include grain stores, effluent stores and silage clamps. Here too the HSE has produced specific guidance leaflets to minimise the risks associated with these: Controlling Grain Dust on Farms, Preventing access to effluent stores, and Nitrogen dioxide in silage clamps.
Useful links: External
HSE agricultural health and safety guidance
HSE Farmwise Guide
Further information
Defra helpline – 08459 33 55 77
Health and Safety Executive infoline – 0845 345 0055
Pesticides Safety Directorate Information Section – 01904 455775
Page last modified: 1 July 2006
Page published: 1 July 2006