Hearing that the HSE is planning to visit can be a worrying moment.
However, taking a proactive approach to health and safety and some simple preparation ahead of the inspection can avoid would-be problems and take much of the stress out of the process, according to CXCS’s Darren Owens.
Here, he highlights four of the main areas livestock farmers are likely to find inspectors focusing on, provides some guidance on how to reduce risks in relation to those, plus shares tips on how to approach the inspection itself.
Livestock handling
Make sure gates, runs and crushes are all in good, safe working order. It’s important they’re up-to-date, regularly checked and well maintained.
Try to get in to a mindset where you carry out a ‘pre-start check’. In the same way that you might walk around a vehicle, checking the tyres, brakes, lights, windscreen wiper and oil levels, do the same with cattle crushes to make sure they open/close and lock correctly. A quick 30- to 60-second check can save a lot of heartache and money in the long run.
Milking cows are accustomed to moving through pens, races and parlours because they do it so often, but give extra thought to safety when you’re moving stock such as new heifers.
You can never totally eliminate the risk associated with handling a bull, but you can make sure pens are strong, sturdy and correctly maintained (if they can’t be brought up to this condition, they should be replaced).
Working at height
Working on bale stacks, roofs, vehicles and ladders and using unsuitable access equipment such as buckets all brings big risks, so it’s important to make sure tasks are suitably planned, supervised and carried out by competent people.
Loading trailers and stacking bales presents dangers, so always check that trailer floors are in good condition and end racks or hay ladders are used. Full loads should be secured before leaving the field, no one should ride on them, and drivers should indicate clearly before a trailer is moved. Bale stacks, meanwhile, should be inspected regularly, and people should stay clear when unloading or de-stacking them.
Don’t walk on fragile roofing materials such as asbestos, other fibre cement sheet or glass and always make sure you use enough suitable, properly fixed roof ladders or crawling boards.
Set aside enough time to do the job, plus take account of weather conditions such as light levels, ice, wind and rain.
Machinery and equipment
Make sure you’re fully up to speed with your LOLER testing, as well as training on the telehandler (and obviously that anyone else who’ll be involved with machinery has the necessary qualifications and training).
Safety often boils down to traffic management in the yard and making sure people are aware of what everyone else is doing. High-vis clothing is a cheap and effective way of making sure it’s obvious where you are.
First-aid kits are a good idea to have in all vehicles – they should contain a small laminated emergency list of contact numbers.
PTO-driven kit such as tub feeders, slurry mixers and augers must have all the right guards and be fit for purpose.
Big machinery, like tractors and loaders, needs a thorough overhaul at least annually, but for smaller items, it’s recommended you make a visual inspection before every use.
Slurry
Lagoons that are poorly fenced or not fenced at all, raise the likelihood of someone falling into them and drowning (or doing so attempting to rescue an animal that’s fallen in because of the inadequate fencing). Surrounding them with wire-mesh sheep fencing and two strands of barbed wire is recommended, to meet a minimum height of 1.3m. If you can’t complete fencing of the whole lagoon immediately, remember that some fencing is better than no fencing. Consider using an electric fence as a barrier until you can do it properly.
Slurry gas is also a big danger. It’s a heavy gas that sits low to the ground, is fairly odourless and is incredibly toxic. Two breaths can kill you, so whether you have an underground tank, a floor-mounted tower, or a pit, always take the proper precautions.
How to approach an HSE inspector’s visit
- Have all your paperwork well organised and ready and flick through it ahead of the visit to re-familiarise yourself with it
- Try not to be nervous or defensive – be calm and professional
- Tell the inspector about the farm and your approach to H&S over a coffee – this will put everyone at ease
- Put yourself in the driving seat, ask what they want to see and escort them (they’ll typically be happy to be accompanied)
- Bear in mind they have the right to “examine and investigate” any part of the premises, equipment, and any article or substance
- If you don’t understand something the inspector says, ask them to explain it again, as they can sometimes use jargon
- If you have an adviser, ask them to attend. Taking expert advice on H&S matters means your farm will be safer and your records will be up-to-date, taking the stress out of an inspection
- HSE inspectors will be professional, helpful and knowledgeable, so be frank and cooperative with them
- Depending on the size of farm, expect it to take about two hours
- Inspectors should give you a debrief at the end of the visit, which they may follow up with further communications
- The options open to them include: No action, verbal advice, written advice, a formal caution, an improvement notice, a prohibition notice or prosecution
- Remember, if you take a sensible, proactive approach to health and safety, you should have nothing to fear from an inspection.
If you require any help with the Health and Safety on your farm you can call our office on 01981 590514 or email info@cxcs.co.uk.
