16 Landwards Autumn 2009

HHEEAALLTTHH && SSAAFFEETTYY

DID you realise that on aver-age, nearly one person is killedeach week on a farm and theindustry has a fatal incidentrate about three times higherthan in construction*?(Incidence rates are based onthe number of people working ineach industry rather than thenumber of deaths each year.)

HSE’s new ‘AgricultureRevisited’ initiative aims todrive down the very high num-ber of fatalities and majorinjuries in the farming industry.

New methods are being triedto raise awareness and reducethe risk of accidents. You mayhave seen the various advertsin Farmers Weekly or even havereceived one of the ‘PromiseKnots’ used to promote the‘Make The Promise - ComeHome Safe’ campaign earlier inthe year? This campaign isbased on direct marketing tofarmers and their families andfollowing the successfulresponse, is being followed bythe next phase, ‘Keep thePromise’.

As part of IAgrE’s supportfor this important initiative thenew IAgrE Student SafetyAward was announced in thelast issue of Landwards. ThisAward has been established toencourage innovation anddemonstration of good practicein safe design or operation ofequipment by students, as partof their project work. Collegesare encouraged to identify andnominate suitable individuals,through the IAgrE Awardsnominations.

HSE also introduced anaward for safe design ofmachinery as part of the RASEMedals scheme. This was pre-

sented to Case IH for innova-tive design features incorporat-ed in the Axial Flow combine.

In presenting the Award toCharles Blessley (Case IHMarketing Director) at theRoyal Show, in my role asHSE’s Head of Safety for theAgriculture Sector, I pointedout that many serious and fatalinjuries are occur during main-tenance and clearing blockagesin agricultural machines andmanufacturers can significantlyreduce the risks by designingout hazards.

I was particularly pleased topresent the Award on behalf ofHSE as it was 30 years ago tothe day that I joined HSE as anAgricultural Inspector. It wasalso ironic that one of the firstserious accidents I investigatedinvolved a farmer who lost hisarm when he was clearing ablockage in a combine and hisson started the machine, notknowing his father was stillworking on it.

THE Axial Flow’s ‘Power Plus’transmission has significantlyreduced the number ofmechanical drive systems andthe inherent risk that they cre-ate from both routine and in-field maintenance operationsand many users cited the bene-fits of simpler and lower dailymaintenance requirements.

The manufacturer has alsoprovided an engineering solu-tion to the problem of clearingblockages in the threshingmechanism. By utilising thehydraulic component of thetransmission to the main rotor,the operator is able to ‘de-slug’the machine from the cabshould a blockage occur, thus

removing the risks that canarise from having to gain physi-cal access and clear materialmanually.

HSE is also working closelywith the AEA, BAGMA andothers to reduce risks andinfluence farmers through the‘Equipment Supply Chain’.This includes updating anddeveloping guidance fordesigners, suppliers and users,and will be made freely avail-able via the web. (This mightoffer a development opportuni-ty for someone?)

HSE are also working withcolleges to improve the contentof the syllabus and trainingcourses, and ultimately, thecompetence of new entrants tothe industry, in all areas. IAgrEis liaising with HSE to see ifthe new ‘H&S Management’VQs could fit within the struc-ture of the LTA scheme.

These VQ were originallydeveloped for farming andhave been accredited at Levels2, 3 and 4, so cover the rangefrom new entrant/student,through supervisors to senior

managers. Alan sees thesequalifications as enabling awide range of land-based com-panies to demonstrate compe-tence (to assess and managerisks) at all levels within theirorganisation.

They will also help to raiseawareness of key hazards andrisks avoidance and promotegood practice amongst engi-neers and technicians. Thiswill in turn help them to pro-tect themselves when workingon site as well as enable themto alert farmers to safer prac-tices.

HSE and the various organi-sations are also looking formore effective ways to promote‘safe machine/safe operator’messages, eg through newexhibits and displays at showsand other events (eg dealeropen days).

If you would like furtherinformation on this initiative, orwould like to discuss any other

H&S issue, please contact Alan Plom at

alan.plom@hse.gsi.gov.uk

New agriculturehealth & safetyinitiative

New agriculturehealth & safetyinitiativewhat does it mean to you?ALAN PLOM, Head of Safety Section,Agriculture & Food Sector explains

Alan Plom with Case IH’s Charles Blessley, together with Mrs AdelMacNicol, RASE President - taken at the RASE Awards ceremony

during the Royal Show