Farmers around the UK are getting ready for lambing, which is a very busy time of the year on any farm.
With this in mind an insurance company managing director has asked that farmers take care when employing temporary staff to help around the farm, particularly when it comes to using quad bikes, as published in the Farmers’ Guardian.
Farm quads are essential around the farm and safety is all important and with this in mind it is crucial that farmers ensure staff are up to date in regards to how to use the equipment, to reduce accidents. Farm safety is important year round but more so when farmers take on temporary staff to help during the lambing season. Issues should be discussed and farmers need to make sure that those they hire are competent at riding farm quads. Employers also need to stress that the importance in not taking risks and should make sure that staff have access to the proper safety equipment, including safety helmets.
Along with ensuring that staff known how to handle farm quads they also need to make sure that new staff know how to operate machinery around the farm correctly and follow safety procedures for operation. There should also be a safe load policy in regards to moving such as hay bales and feed rings and staff should be taught how to deal with problems if they arise.
Farm quads are often used during lambing as gates, pens and hurdles all typically have to be moved. Often this takes more than one person and safe loads are essential. Protection of staff on the farm is essential at all times to reduce the risk of accidents.