On the 6th day of Christmas Cedrec gave to me, some tips on farm safety.
Christmas is just around the corner and Santa Claus is getting ready for his busiest night of the year. But just because he is at his busiest on Christmas eve while delivering presents, his day-to-day life in Lapland is likely filled with jobs that our local farmers do too! While working on a farm, health and safety must be a priority, or yule be sorry!
Here are some essential tips for working safely for farmers in UK and Ireland:
Livestock safety
Keeping Santa's reindeer can be a strenuous task and the risks to the farmer and people working around them must be appropriately controlled, as animals can sometimes behave in unpredictable ways. Tending to farm animals and cattle can involve the risk of injury from crushing, kicking, butting or goring, with the risks increasing if the animals are not handled frequently, during calving season or when sick or injured.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has some great resources on keeping farm animals and how to do it safely. More information on this subject can be found here.
Farm equipment and machinery
Even though Santa's farm can be a magical place, he might need some help from the modern machinery often used in the field to harvest, load, lift or tow. Those machines can be very dangerous and extra precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of everyone working with and around them. It is especially important to consider the winter weather and the safety challenges this may pose whist using machinery.
In addition to the "usual" health and safety legal requirements, Santa must also ensure that his machinery is suitable and appropriately used and maintained under the:
There is also a guidance document published by the HSE to help out in understanding farmers' duties in relation to agricultural machinery - INDG241 - Working safely with agricultural machinery.
Farmers in Ireland can obtain some great advice from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) on farm safety, such as the Farm Safety Code of Practice - Risk Assessment document.
Keeping children safe on a farm
Santa's little helpers need some extra attention to protect their elf and safety when working or playing within the premises, especially whilst schools are closed over the Christmas season. Children and young people are one of the most vulnerable groups and every year, there are a number of accidents involving children on a farm due to the use of heavy machinery, driving, the presence of farm animals, and working at height.
The HSE published very useful guidance that covers practical support on how to reduce the risk of injury to children under 13 and under 16 years old as well as identifies what tasks cannot be carried out by children as they are deemed too hazardous. For more information on this subject, see INDG472 - Preventing accidents to children on farms.
Winter on a farm
Some people may think that winter on a farm is a quiet and easy period. This could not be further from the truth! Low temperatures, short days, heavy snowfall and flooding can cause extra issues for the farmers and work during these conditions must be planned ahead to ensure the safety of the workers as well as the animals.
The Irish HSA produced a very handy leaflet to provide information on how farmers can prepare for the winter. For more information on this subject, see Winter Ready for Farm Families.
