What are the hazards? Who be harmed and how? What are you already What further action is necessary? Suggestions below Action by whom? Action by when? Done Slurry pits All visitors – slips, trips, falls; drowning. Prevent access and ensure adequate fencing to HSE AIS9 standard. Supervision. Signage. Sheep dipping baths All visitors – drowning. Prevent access and keep dips securely covered. Supervision. Silage pits All visitors – falls from height; Contamination with manure. Prevent access – area to be roped off when not full. Supervision. Signage. Supervised hand washing. Manure & compost heaps All visitors – contamination with manure. Prevent access. Supervision. Signage. Ponds and water courses; zoonoses – Weil’s disease All visitors – drowning; contamination with infective agent from contact with water. Prevent access. Divert route to avoid water course - signage (at entrance and near water course). Washing facilities. (see later for pond-dipping). Fences and gates; Electric fences Visitors physical injuries – cuts, grazes etc. Contamination of visitors from touching farm animals or contaminated surfaces followed by ingestion of micro –organisms; electric shock from touching live fences. Maintenance of fences & gates. Regular cleaning to prevent contamination with manure. Provide hand washing facilities (See Industry Code of Practice). Information & signage. Double fencing. Cover barbed/electric wire at viewing point. Switch off fence. Barns and yards – bale & fertiliser stacks; unsecured tractor wheels, pallets, boxes etc All visitors – struck by falling objects, injuries due to climbing/falling. Check stacks are secure & restack if required. Prevent access. Prohibit climbing on stacks (see later for supervised bale-climbing) Remove hazardous objects, tripping hazards etc. Store wheels/tyres etc safely. Grain silos, bins and stores All visitors – inhaling harmful grain dust; physical injury from falls; entrapment/ suffocation. Prevent access to grain stores/bins. Cover intake pits. Supervision. Signage. Remove access ladders on bins or make safe. What are the hazards? Who might be harmed and how? What are you already doing? What further action is necessary? Suggestions below Action by whom? Action by when? Done
Milking parlour Visitors at milking demonstration – slips on wet surfaces. Contamination with manure/slurry. See hand washing checklist (over) Clean parlour prior to visit Supervised hand and boot washing must be provided. Designated viewing area/ access routes. Supervision. Signage on steps, etc. Remove any tripping hazards. Shearing activities Electricity zoonoses – such as orf, E coli O157, Cryptosporidiosis, etc Visitors and at shearing demonstration; electric shock or burns; tripping on wires; contamination with manure/dung. Maintenance of electrical equipment & systems. Use RCDs on sheep shears. Regular cleaning of area. Designated viewing areas. Wires out of passageways. Washing facilities. Static machinery (tractors, harvesters, cultivation equipment, ATVs) Visitors climbing on and playing with machinery displays – physical injury from contact with dangerous parts e.g.spikes or falls from height. Static machinery must be supervised. Keys must be removed. Remove/protect sharp edges & dangerous parts. Signage. Park machinery safely e.g. Lift trucks & loader tractors with buckets/spikes on the floor. Working machinery (e.g. bale-wrapping, spraying, feeding or bedding animals with machines etc) Visitors viewing machinery demonstrations: physical injury from contact with dangerous parts. PTO shafts & other dangerous parts must be guarded. Cordon off demonstration area. Signage and supervision. Staff/helper training. Remove keys & park safely when not in use. No chemicals may be sprayed No riding on machines permitted. Electrical eq’ment – Saw benches, heavy plant (not part of display) All visitors – physical injury from contact with dangerous parts. Equipment stored or locked away and not used during visit/event. Restrict access. Fit guards to those on display. Disconnect power supply and make safe. Ponds, streams for pond-dipping Children – drowning, slips, falls, cuts, grazes Supervision. Avoid deep water and streams. Barrier to prevent falling in. First aid provision. Hand washing. Bale stacks for bale-climbing Children – falling, asthma, allergic reactions, entrapment Supervision. Signage. Designated area with purpose-built stack. What are the hazards? Who might be harmed and how? What are you already doing? What further action is necessary? Suggestions Action by whom? Action by when? Done
Farm pets – dogs and cats All visitors, especially children – bitten; scratched; toxoplasmosis through stroking, petting. Keep pets indoors away from visitors. Fuel storage tank All visitors – personal contamination, burns. Keep fuel tank locked. Prevent access e.g. remove ladder. Supervision. Animal feeds All visitors – ingestion of feeds or contamination with micro organisms. Prevent access to feed stores. Supervision of feeding animals Washing facilities. Flora and fauna Visitors on farm walk or nature trail – ingestion of poisonous fruits or berries etc. Check routes beforehand. Supervision. Warn visitors before setting off. Avoid known hazards on route. Chemical and veterinary products All visitors – ingestion of harmful chemicals, breathing vapour or skin; contamination. Chemical and veterinary products must be locked away in a suitable store. Access to store prohibited. Food, refreshments Visitors who eat food supplied at venue – food poisoning, illness. Provider must have food hygiene certificate.