Issue Date:  -  Friday, 28 November 2003

Warning on dangers at harvest time

WorkSafe has added its voice to the call for farmers to take every possible safety precaution during harvesting.

WorkSafe Acting Executive Director Nina Lyhne said today that safety was of utmost importance during this very busy period.

“Farmers face enormous pressure to get the job done quickly during harvest time, but I urge them not to let safety considerations slip, Ms Lyhne said.

“We’re particularly concerned that safety measures are adhered to when working with heavy mobile machinery such as harvesters, trucks and tractors.

“Machinery safety should start with properly and safely maintaining the machinery, and should extend to the safe operation of that machinery.

“A couple of years ago, a farmer tragically lost his life when part of a harvester he was adjusting in a paddock fell on him.

“This death served as a reminder to farmers that plant and equipment should receive regular routine maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer’s manual or the dealer’s recommendations to lessen the likelihood of adjustment being required in the field.”

There have been ten deaths in WA related to equipment starting in gear or accidentally knocked into gear since 1988.

“Also of great concern to us is the guarding of farm machinery,” Ms Lyhne said.

“A life was lost on a farm during seeding last year when a farm worker’s shirt was caught in an unguarded grain elevator, dragging him into the machinery.

“This incident was directly attributable to a lack of guarding on the moving parts of the machine.”

Manufacturers of machinery are legally required to make sure dangerous parts are safely guarded so operators are protected from injury, and operators are under an obligation to leave guards in place when machinery is being operated.

Farmers should regularly check for hazards relating to machinery guarding, particularly in older machines where extra moving parts may have been added or original guarding removed.

Guards should be designed to protect the user but allow access for maintenance, and should not be removed unless the machine is stopped and isolated from the power source and locked out.

Safe procedures should be established for dealing with machinery and its maintenance, including the use of checklists and lock-out and tag devices to prevent machinery from being accidentally started during maintenance.

“Not only farmers, but everyone in the workplace is in danger of being injured by machinery and it is vital that everyone remains vigilant at all times around machines,” Ms Lyhne said.

Media Contact:

Caroline De Vaney on 9327 8744 or 0408 927563.