It’s October, you know what that means… No not Halloween and pumpkins.
Every year on October 25th, we support National Hay Safe Day in Australia. An initiative driven by the Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA). Hay safe is regularly on on our mind this time of year. Especially as harvest season begins to peak, and hay/silage season fast approaching.
National Hay Safe Day plays the essential role in raising awareness about hay safety practices. It emphasises the importance of handling hay properly to prevent accidents and ensure the well-being of those involved in hay production and transportation. This year the team at AFIA are encouraging everyone to Plan.
Plan your machinery maintenance to be safe around hay. Plan loading and unloading to be safe around hay. Plan to keep your people safe.
It might shock some people to know that hay bales, either cylinders or rectangles - yes they come in a variety of shapes, can weigh anywhere from 40kg to 1500kg. Falling hay bales and collapsing stacks pose a significant danger, potentially leading to crush injuries or death. Sadly, there have been multiple cases where individuals have died after being crushed by bales that fell from either stationary stacks or from trucks and trailers.
Broken bones, fractures, and head injuries can arise from falls off bale stacks, as well as from the use of vehicles and machinery for transporting or stacking bales, and from unfortunate runover accidents.
Lifting and carrying bales can lead to manual handling injuries, such as back pain, muscle pulls, and strains.
Injuries associated with bale handling machinery can be quite serious, encompassing everything from minor grazes to more severe entrapments, amputations, and potentially fatal incidents.
Electric shock from coming into contact with power lines above.
Respiratory illnesses and infections linked to dust exposure.
Injuries caused by contact with haystack fires.
When working with hay, it's essential to prioritise safety to ensure a secure environment for yourself and those around you. This involves taking proactive measures to minimise risks associated with handling hay. How can you do that? You make a plan.
A detailed plan needs to cover every aspect of hay management. This means everything from cutting and baling to the last steps of stacking and storing it. It's important to ensure that each step is carefully considered. Proper planning can help prevent issues that may arise during these stages. By focusing on the entire process, you can create an efficient workflow that maximises productivity.
A safety plan should be easy to understand and straightforward so everyone working on the farm can understand it. Your plan could include checklists, info covering rules and steps, and contact info for emergencies. It's really important that this guide is easy for your workers to find and access.
If you’ve made it this far with your safety plan, that’s great! If you’re overwhelmed about where to start or what to cover - we’ve teamed up with our friends at AFIA to provided a great resources. It covers all the important things;
Machinery and equipment maintenance
Transportation of hay
Loading, unloading and stacking
Policies, procedures and guidelines
Emergency management plan
Storage of hay
After all of this hard work, it's great that you have a safety plan in place, but remember to actively use it. Don't just set it aside as if it's completed. Safety isn’t an afterthought; it's an essential part of your daily routine. Operating equipment throughout the hay harvest period comes with recognised dangers and complacency is the biggest risk. Making sure your people are trained well, equipment is in good shape, and everyone knows about possible dangers can greatly lower the chances of accidents.
Participating in National Hay Safe Day is an opportunity to engage with your workers and promote important safety practices. By getting involved, you can help raise awareness about the significance of hay safety, ensuring that everyone understands the best practices to prevent accidents and injuries.
Your participation not only contributes to a safer environment but also encourages others to join in and share valuable information. Let's come together to make a positive impact and spread the word about the importance of hay safety!
More AFIA resources are available here!