08/05/2020
Please take time to read before Silage Season kicks in Farm Contractors Ireland
Stay safe everyone
Farm & Forestry Contractors urge greater safety at Silage 2020
The Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has issued a press release based on a series of FCI Fact Sheets providing advice and practical guidance on how Contractors and Farmers, both essential workers, can work together during the COVID-19 restrictions. The aim is to keep everyone on the farm healthy and safe during the 2020 silage season.
FCI has advised Contractors to make sure that any additional COVID-19 risks from their work that could affect the farmer, and their operators while on the farm, are reasonably managed. If a risk can't be eliminated then it must be minimised, in so far as is reasonably practicable.
FCI is particularly concerned about the risk to children on farms this year. “Most children are off school due to the COVID-19 restrictions and the arrival of the silage contractor can provide some excitement for them, in what can be an otherwise boring time,” said FCI National Chairman Richard White.
“We are urging all farm families to pay particular attention to child safety on farms over the coming weeks. We are urging farm families not to allow children into silage fields when the harvesting is taking place, from the time of mowing onwards. We are appealing to them to keep children at a safe distance away from the silage pit as trailers unload and the process of building the silage clamp begins. The risks are simply too great,” said Richard White.
FCI is also advising farmers to make sure:
• that any risks from farm work are reasonably managed (eliminated or minimised) to protect the health and safety of contractors and their operators
• that any risks from low overhead wires are made known to the contractor for the safety of operators
FCI believes that Contractors and Farmers must work together to meet their overlapping duties every time a contractor comes onto a farm. Because of CODID-19, having an over-the-phone meeting before work starts can help Contractors and Farmers to reach a common understanding. It can help to establish clear roles, responsibilities and actions in order to prevent any gaps in managing health and safety risks. Irish Farmers Journal Irish Farmer's Journal Machinery & Vintage AgriLand.ie Thatsfarming.com CountryWide RTE Radio 1 Ear to the Ground Farming Independent Meath Chronicle Irish Examiner The Irish Times The Irish Sun Irish Daily Mirror Irish Daily Star Limerick Leader The Kerryman Connacht Tribune - Galway City Tribune Western People The Mayo News The Sligo Champion Kilkenny People Wexford People Waterford Whispers News Waterford News & Star