The law says that any equipment - including machinery - that you use at work must be suitable for the task, properly maintained, with dangerous parts safeguarded, and that adequate training and information about the equipment is available. Equipment must be stable, and stop controls, including emergency stops, must be provided.  Read more...

Staying safe when working with machinery

Many serious accidents on farms involve machinery. Some happen because a machine has been used for a job for which it is unsuitable; others because guards have not been provided or have been left off.

 

Using machines safely

• Make sure the machine is suitable for the job (for example, a telescopic handler with a grain bucket used to lift a person for work at a height, would not be suitable).
• You should be able to recognise dangerous parts and think about how to prevent injury when you do your risk assessment.
• If you provide safeguards which are inconvenient to use or which can be too easily removed, you may inadvertently encourage your employees to risk injury and break the law;
• You should have a system to check that machinery is safe to use;
• If safety depends on how the equipment has been installed, you should inspect it to ensure it has been set up correctly;
• Inspect equipment regularly for deterioration. Keep records of all inspections.

Make sure you and your workers:

• use machines according to the instructions supplied with them;
• keep guards in position and effective;
• maintain machines so they can be used safely;
• ‘safety check’ all equipment and put right all defects before each use;
• check that controls are clearly marked to show what they do and which machine they control, and are designed so you cannot operate them accidentally;
• check that stationary machines are adequately lit;
• check that electrical machinery is isolated and locked-off if safeguards are removed;
• are trained to work safely and are provided with and use necessary protective clothing.

Power take-off shaft guards

For power take-off (PTO) shaft guards, check that the guard is:

• made to a recognised standard such as BS EN ISO 5674
• the correct size and length for the shaft, both when closed and when extended
• a non-rotating type, with the restraining device (for example, securing chains) in place
• properly used and maintained. Clean and lubricate guards regularly
• supported when not connected. Do not rest it on the drawbar or drop it on the ground, and do not suspend it by the restraining device
• safe from damage, for example, by livestock, when the machine is in store
• Make sure no one uses adaptors to allow a 21 spline 1000 rpm shaft to drive a 6 spline 540 rpm shaft.

Other dangerous parts

Check that safeguards are fitted, and make sure they are:

• strong enough and securely attached to the machine
• not easily defeated, for example, require a tool to open, and are self-locking
• made of the right material. Plastic allows good visibility but may be easily damaged
• regularly checked and maintained in effective working order.

If guards are interlocked, for example if you need access several times each day to a dangerous part, check that:

• the machine cannot start before the guard is in position
• opening the guard stops the machine or that part
• the interlocking switch or valve is sufficiently robust for the job, and the way it works makes it difficult for someone to defeat.

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