Welcome to Strutt & Parker’s Farm Research Group Health & Safety Update

The quarterly Health & Safety Update is designed to make you think about health & safety matters on your farm and/or estate. Health & safety is a vital part of any business operation.

Harvest will very soon be upon us and it is at this busy time of year when everyone is tired that accidents can happen more easily. Staff numbers are higher as harvest students are taken on to help out, some of whom will have limited experience in the industry and of the locality in which they are working. It is important to provide all staff with an informed briefing on health and safety prior to harvest and to ensure that staff are familiar and understand any emergency procedures that are in place across the farm or estate.

Do take time to inspect machines each morning when servicing them to ensure that no damage has been caused to them during the previous day or nights work. Where any damage has occurred this should be rectified before the machine is used again and reported to the owner or farm manager where appropriate. Remember that it is not just machines that need refuelling, staff need to eat and rest properly, if there are a number of wet days forecast consider allowing staff particularly single or harvest staff to get to the supermarket to refill the cupboards.

For further assistance or information on these or any other issues please call your nearest Strutt & Parker office.

View the Health & Safety Update July 2014.