With the harvest now well underway in the south west, the NFU Mutual Risk Management Services (RMS) has put together a checklist for farmers to make safe working their first priority to reduce the risk of accidents.

Gwyn Barlow, RMS regional manager west team, said: “We understand the tremendous pressure that builds up on farmers to keep working before the weather breaks and the risks this brings when people are tired.

“We’re encouraging farmers to make safe working their first priority this harvest to reduce the risk of accidents at a particularly busy time of year. There are many simple but highly effective steps farmers can take to reduce risk.”

Pre-harvest checks include maintenance on all combines and balers, tractors and trailers and training causal harvest staff in the correct use of machinery. During harvest farmers are encouraged to put in place a system for keeping in contact with lone workers and to ensure that a sprayer filled with water is attached to a tractor to lay a fire break in the event of a crop fire. Yard checks should include making sure that signage is in place to direct lorry drivers and alert members of the public to any potential hazards.

NFU Mutual RMS harvest safety checklist:

Pre-harvest

• Check combines and balers before harvest and carry out all recommended maintenance.

• Check electrical wiring for rodent damage before start-up after storage.

• Thoroughly check tractors and trailers to ensure they are safe and roadworthy with particular attention to signals, lights, brake efficiency and wear on links, pins and couplings.

• Check fire extinguishers are in place and are the correct type, fully charged and in full working order.

• Make sure regular and casual harvest staff are trained in the correct use of machinery – especially safe working around power lines and on slopes.

• Check that field entrances are not obscured, for example by overgrown hedges or long grass.

Harvest

• Regularly clean out dust and chaff from hot spots in combines and balers.

• Switch off engines and ensure parts have stopped before clearing blockages or carrying out maintenance.

• Always stop and investigate hot-running engines or bearings.

• Put in place a system for keeping in contact with lone workers.

• Keep mobile phones on your person - not left in a tractor or pick up cab.

• Make sure drivers are aware of the locations and heights of power lines and check that the machinery will safely pass under wires and restrictions.

• In very dry conditions, keep a sprayer filled with water on hand attached to a tractor to lay a fire break in the event of a crop fire.

Yard

• Instruct drivers to keep to safe speeds in the grain yard.

• Check signs are in place to help lorry drivers go to the right place, and alert members of the public to any potential hazards.

• Keep children away from working areas.

• Clean dust regularly from grain dryers – and ensure that all staff running the dryer are fully trained and know what to do if fire breaks out.

• Ensure fire extinguishers are readily accessible and regularly serviced.

• Make sure ladders and platforms used for maintenance are in good condition and a safe system of work is in operation.