As spring’s workload looms, farmers should take care to reduce potential injury risk or even death. Teagasc’s Health and Safety specialists, Francis Bligh and John McNamara, have compiled some suggestions for keeping safe at calving time, and when handling slurry and doing machinery activities.
Pay particular attention to avoiding tractor knockdown or crush injuries, or getting attacked by a cow with a newborn calf during the coming months.
Safety around tractors / machinery
Proper maintenance enhances one’s safety. Ensure the full set of functioning lights and flashing amber beacons are working. Check all guards and protective covers are in place. PTO covers and chains, including O guards and U guards, which should be checked for signs of wear or damage. Check hydraulic oil hoses, rams and couplings to ensure there is no deterioration. Be careful of the risk of high-pressure oil escaping and injuring your skin or eyes. Wheel rims and tyres must be in good condition. Visibility is important – clean windows and mirrors.
Safety when handling slurry
It’s easy to lose concentration and accidentally step-back into a slurry tank. Make sure there are safety grids and barriers installed. Be extra vigilant when placing slurry agitators into position. Use access holes for slurry pipes. Keep slurry tanks and pits securely covered or fenced.
Slurry gassing
Poisoning can happen ‘above ground’ due to the release of Hydrogen Sulphide (H2 S). H2 S can be detected by smelling at 0.1ppm. At 150ppm, the olfactory nerve which detects smell in the nose is desensitised, meaning H2 S cannot be detected by smell. The gas produces adverse health effects at increasing concentration and death can take place rapidly above 700ppm.Teagasc research shows that fatal concentrations of gas can occur once agitation commences.
Safety tips when agitating slurry
Always wait for a breezy day.
• Open all doors and vents.
• Remove all animals from the shed.
• Ensure people, particularly children or older persons, don’t enter during or after agitation.
• Have at least two people present at all times.
• Check that machinery is in good repair and all guards are in place.
• Make sure tank access points are guarded.
• Stay away from the agitation point for at least the first 30 minutes after agitation starts.
• Note: poisoning can occur outdoors or indoors in calm conditions.
Beware: Slurry gas can travel into linked tanks or buildings connected by pipes or channels. Oothers in the yard may be unaware that milking parlours, store sheds or even workshops could have high concentrations of potentially fatal gas present.
Safety at calving time
Never turn your back on a cow when handling her newborn calf. Where possible, keep a barrier between you and the cow when removing the calf.
Tiredness – Plan time to rest.
Cow/heifer temperament – Cows can become aggressive at calving – minimise interaction at this time.
Health and welfare around calving – When good management practices are in place to manage cow body condition, nutrition and health, the likelihood of difficult calvings needing intervention is reduced.
• Dust: Prevent or reduce exposure to dust and spores when liming or bedding calving pens. Keep a set of dust masks in a clean, dry, convenient location.
• Hygiene: Wearing arm length gloves and washable protective clothing and boots when assisting cows at calving will reduce the likelihood of the cow picking up infection.
• Calving camera: Monitoring cows with a camera can help reduce trips to the shed.
• Calving pen and gate: Securely restraining a cow at calving helps to reduce the physical demands associated with an assisted calving and reduces the risk of injury.
• Tagging calves: Never tag a calf in a pen with its mother present.
• Good lighting: It is essential to have good lighting around the yard and in sheds used for calving.
• Calving equipment: Always keep the calving jack and calving ropes clean and in good repair..
• Keep children away from the shed at calving time.
This article was published in Today’s Farm 2022.