On farm, we rely heavily on the continued integrity of our buildings. They house assets, whether they be machinery or livestock and it is vital that they are safe areas for working in order to protect these assets and your workforce.
Naomi Richards, our Health and Saftey Adviser shares the main hazards that she finds when risk assessing buildings on farms and what you can do to minimise these risks on your farm.
Asbestos
Many buildings have roofing, cladding and downspouts which contain cement bonded asbestos fibres. Asbestos cement contains only 10%-15% asbestos. The asbestos is tightly bound into the cement and the material will only give off fibres if it is badly damaged or broken. The ‘Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012’ means that you have a responsibility to manage any asbestos on your farm through the provision of an Asbestos Management Plan which will record the location, sizes and condition of the panels. Unless damage occurs and these roofing materials need replacing they are best left alone. When they do need removing, a licensed contractor must be appointed to carry out the work.
Fragile roofs
Many roofing types can fall into this category. If you have any on your farm these should clearly display the yellow ‘warning fragile roof’ signage on each exposed side. Remember: It is not just the cement fibre or asbestos roofs which can be fragile and require crawler boards to gain access.
Working at height
Making repairs to roofs is a high-risk task. Each time you have to gain access to the roof space either internally or externally you must consider safe methods of access. An inspected, LOLER tested telehandler with a man cage fitted to it is often the safest way to gain access. Train and brief any applicable staff in the correct procedures for working at height and if it is a task undertaken regularly then we recommend that you have a method statement and task-specific risk assessment for the job.
Cattle handling systems within older traditional buildings
Often we come across beautiful old brick or stone buildings which have been included in the cattle handling system. These pose risks to workers due to low beams and inadequate lighting. When installing cattle handling systems we must consider the welfare of the animals as well as the safety of those involved in the movement. The minimum requirements are adequate lighting in all areas (this can be temporary in nature but must be sufficient for the task being carried out). Another factor which is regularly overlooked is escape routes and safe working areas. There must be escape routes permanently sited from the holding area before and after the crush and a cordoned off area on either side where possible for an employee or vet to safely administer treatment or tests.
Whilst these are the most frequent of my finds other areas which should not be over-looked are safe storage provision for chemicals, veterinary drugs and gas cylinders; clean, warm and dry restrooms and provision for an electrical inspection.
