Falls from heights are one of the leading causes of major injury and death on farms, according to the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).
Simple, straightforward physical protection measures can prevent falls occurring, but a lack of forward planning results in crucial protection measures being neglected during this high-risk work.
Many falls happen while agricultural buildings or other farm structures are being built, demolished or maintained. These jobs involve working at height and require some form of temporary access, such as ladders, scaffolds or other working platforms.
The HSENI is urging farmers to stop and think before they tackle any jobs that require working from height.
Many farm incidents each year are a result of ladders slipping sideways or out from the base, or someone falling from the ladder. Instead, the HSENI recommends using a purpose-built working platform or a tower scaffold and only using a ladder as a last resort.
The HSENI said people who start a job involving height believe it will only take a few minutes, they take huge risks in the hope that simply by trying to be careful it will be enough in preventing a very serious incident.
For more information about working at height please contact the HSENI helpline on 0800 0320 121 or visit:www.hseni.gov.uk/articles/falls-working-safely-height-farms
LSL News.