Wear work clothes
An untied shoelace, long loose hair and stray threads from an old shirt can lead to injuries when operating farm equipment with rotating parts. Some tasks require protective clothing such as safety shoes or safety gloves. Dressing appropriately reduces the risk of injuries.
Cleanliness on farm
Keeping your farm tidy will allow you to notice anomalies and hazards more easily. This also means less chance of cuts, tripping or getting stuck behind something. Make sure your machines can operate tasks without obstructions.
Provide a safe work environment
You are legally responsible for the health and safety of your personnel. Realise a safe working environment and provide the proper tools for them to work safely. Provide training and guiding to anyone who works on your farm. When dividing tasks among you personnel, make sure to select the right person for the job. Allow only qualified personnel to perform certain tasks. Maintain supervision and intervene when work is carried out in an unsafe manner
Handle animals with caution
There are always risks related to jobs that involve interaction with animals. Animals can be unpredictable. Avoid blind spots and approach animals slowly so that they are always aware of your presence. Be especially careful around bulls and cows in heat. Keep animals away from working areas
Be careful with slurry
Be aware that during the decomposition of slurry, bacteria produce gasses. Some of these gases are poisonous and highly flammable. Make sure visitors do not enter the barn when you are mixing slurry. Prevent anyone from falling into the slurry with proper fencing, signing or by keeping all openings to the manure pit closed when left unattended.
Electrical safety
Have the electrical installations on your farm checked regularly by a professional. Perform maintenance on electrical systems only if you are sufficiently qualified. When performing maintenance, disconnect and isolate the electrical power and take the machine out of operation. Always keep away from areas with high voltage.
