Chapter Three

Question 1

1. What is a ‘Standard Operating Procedure?’

Answer 1

Step by step guide to completing a farm task.

Question 2

2. List the 3 methods that reduce Manual handling on the farm.

Answer 2

Barrows.
Hand Trucks
Front Loaders/Fork lift trucks.
Elevators.
Pallet trucks
Pump systems.

Question 3

3. On the diagram, what percentage of farmers have injured their Neck and Shoulder?
   (See image)

Answer 3

Insert diagram image.

Question 4

4. Describe the Approach for Setting down the Load in relation to Manual handling.

Question 5

5. What are the four principals for eliminating or reducing work hazards?

Answer 5

1. Eliminate the Risk.
   2.Isolate the risk
2. Bar access to hazard zones.
   4 Use PPE

Question 6

6. What does PPE stand for?

Answer 6

Personal protective equipment

Question 7

7. What is the ‘’CE’’ stamp in relation to PPE?

Answer 7

A declaration of conformity to a European quality standard.

Question 8

8. What year did the EU introduce the standard of safety signs?

Answer 8

1980;

Question 9

9. Safety Signs are made up of three elements, what are they?

Answer 9

Colours -safety colour and contrasting colours.

Shapes - Discs, Triangles, squares and rectangles

Symbols many and varied eg skull and crossbones.

Question 10

10. ‘’The main causes of Child fatal accidents are tractors/machinery and drowning’’.

Answer 10

True. BEtween 2006 and 2015 2 or 3 children were killed in farm accidents every year.

Question 11

11. What age can a child/young person be permitted to drive a tractor or machinery on the farm

Answer 11

16 to get a licence. Aged 14 or over should only be permitted to drive on farm/private property if they are supervised by an experienced adult/attended a formal training course/th ground is free from safety hazards.

Question 12

12. List 5 Don’ts when it comes to child safety.

Answer 12

Allow children under 14 to drive tractors.
Use young children to control livestock.
Carry children on tractors or field machinery.
Allow children to play with discarded chemical containers.
Ask too much of a child.
Allow to work/play in areas that would affect their health

Question 13

13. List three ways to prevent machinery accidents.

Answer 13

Training in correct operation of machinery.
Being in control of tractors and machinery by always following the rules of safe tractor/machine operation.
Maintaining tractors and machinery in good working order for exmple brakes, including hand brake, safety guard, clutch adjustment, lights mirrors and steering

Question 14

14. Describe the ‘’Common sense approach to bull handling’’

Answer 14

Treat all bulls, including quiet bulls with caution at all times.

Consider using AI

There should always be 2 people available when handling a bull. Over 18, fit, trained properly, knowledgeable and aware.
Ring Bulls at ten months. Inspect ring regularly. A bulls nose is his weakest point so ring makes for good control.

Dehorn young animals retained as bulls. Horned bought in bulls should be sculled by vet as soon as possible.

Train children never to enter a field where a bull is running.

When grazing a bull with a herd use fields to which the public do not have right of accss.

Any field or enclosure in which a bull is kept should be fenced and gates should be locked and maintained.

A safety sign warning of the bull’s presence should be displayed at all gates, stiles or other access points.

Question 15

15. What are the Four Gases Released during Slurry agitation?

Answer 15

Hydrogen Sulphide.
Methane
Ammonia
Carbon dioxide.

Question 16

16. ‘’In the first 30 minutes of agitating slurry the most gases are released’’. True or False?

Answer 16

True

Question 17

17. What is an RCD in relation to Electricity.

Answer 17

Residual Current Device -An electrically operated device wired into socket circuits to provide additional protection from electric shocks. Needs to be checked monthly.

Question 18

18. Chemicals are divided into 4 classification groups. List and Describe these groups
    Answer:

Answer 18

Group 1: Everydayuse - Fuel (petrol and diesel) fertilisers, wood preservatives, salt, etc.

Need handling with care. Can cause rashes and skin problems. Nitrile gloves should be worn.

Group 2: Acids and bases (cleaning agents and disinfectants).

Acids used as preservatives; formic and sulphuric acides in silage maing and propionic acid for grain/preservation. Acids are corrosive so main dangers to skin and eyes. Breathing or swallowing acids will lead to problems with the internal lining of the body. Never pour cold water onto acids;it causes the acids to splash dangerously. Protect all areas of body with possible contact.

Bases are mainly associated with cleaning and dinfectants. Bases are corrosive so cover exposed areas of body. They can dissolve fatty tissue in the skin, removing body natural protection and leaving skin vulnerable to infection.

Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and caustic soda (Sodium hydroxide) react violently with acids releasing toxic gases. This can happen if bleach reacts to cows urins when washing milking parlours.

Acids and bases may react violently when mixed. Store well apart.

Group 3: Pesticides.

Most dangerous substances for farmers. Follow instruction on pesticides packages. Mixing pesticides before application highest time of risk. During mixing take care to prevent any contact with concentrated product.

Group 4: Veterinary products. Self administration and accidental contact are hazards. Most only bought with prescription. Farmers must keep a Animal remedies record.

Question 19

19. List one storage requirement of chemicals

Answer 19

The store should be dry, frost free, well ventiltd, secure and built of non combustible materials.

Locked to prevent access by children and marked with a sign.

All chemical stored in their original packaging.

Easily accessible shelving for containers being stored.

Question 20

20. Fill in the blank:
    If an employee has an accident which causes them to miss work for day(s) or more, it must be reported to the HSA.

Question 21

What is White Finger syndrome?

Answer 21

A secondary form of Raynaud’s phenomenon.Vibration white finger (VWF) is a long-term condition that develops due to prolonged use of vibrating tools.

ingling ‘whiteness’ or numbness in the fingers (blood vessels and nerves affected): This may not be noticeable at the end of a working day, and in mild cases may affect only the tips of the fingers. As the condition becomes more severe, the whole finger down to the knuckles may become white. Feeling may also be lost.
Fingers change colour (blood vessels affected): With continued exposure the person may experience periodic attacks in which the fingers change colour when exposed to the cold. Initially the fingers rapidly become pale and feeling is lost. This phase is followed by an intense red flush (sometimes preceded by a dusky bluish phase) signalling the return of blood circulation to the fingers and is usually accompanied by uncomfortable throbbing.
Loss of manual dexterity (nerves and muscles affected): In more severe forms, attacks may occur frequently in cold weather, not only at work, but during leisure activities, such as gardening, car washing or even watching outdoor sports and may last up to an hour causing considerable pain and loss of manual dexterity and reduced grip strength.

Question 22

What do the different safety colours mean?

Answer 22

Red = Stop/prohibition - Stop signs. Emergency shutdown devices. Prohibition signs.

Yellow - Caution/possible danger. Identification of dangers (fire, explosion, radiation, chemicl hazards, etc.) Identification of steps. dangerous passages, obstacles.

Green No Danger/First aid. Identification of emergency routes and emergency exits.
Safety showers.
First aid stations and rescue points.

Blue: Mandatory signs Information - Obligation to wear individual safety equipment. Location of telelphone.

Blue only count counts as safety colour when used in conjuction with a symbol or words on a mandatory sign or information sign bearing instructions relation to technical preservation.

Question 23

What are the three categories of children that must be considered?

Answer 23

1 Children living on the workplace
2 Children working in farming and horticultural operations eg picking fruit
3 Children visiting or attracted to farm yards, fields, forests as natural play grounds.

By law protection must be provided for all children who enter the workplace even if they are there without permission. Children need supervision at all times and should have a safe supervised play area.

Question 24

Most farm vehicles and machinery death account for the highest proportion of farm deaths?

Answer 24

True. MMost tractor accidents involve over turning, getting caught in PTO or falling from the tractor.

Question 25

What are the dos and don’‘t of vehicles and machinery?

Answer 25

Don’t: operate machinery without maintenance checks.
Take chances
Place yourself or others at risks.
Operate at excessive speeds
Overload tractor or machine
Operate a machine too big for the tractor
Operate machine when tired, alcohol, drugs, medication etc
Operate equipment without proper PTO shaft guards.
Carry passengers or children on field machines.

Do: Learn and follow rules for safe use of machinery.
Keep guards in position and replace if removed for maintenance or adjustment.
Make sure that the PTO shaft guard covers the entire shaft and is free to rotate on the shaft.

Match machine and tractor.

Keep onlookers well away from machines.

Question 26

What are the common sense approach to handling and catching horses?

Answer 26

Horses by their nature and unpredictable so always think of safety.

Never surprise a horse. Approach confidently to the front of the horse.

Use tack that’s in good condition.

Those working with stallions must be experienced and alert at all times. A skull cap, gloves and appropiate footwear should be worn.

Persons riding should hav appropiate PPE.

Question 27

What’s a fuse for?

Answer 27

To limit the flow of electricity. They will protect cables and appliance from overload. Eg a 13 amp fuse will blow, burn or otherwise break the circuit if more than 13 amps flow through it.

Question 28

What’s a miniature circuit breakers (MCBs)

Answer 28

MCBS have replaced fuses. They trip on overload and then need resetting. Usually overload is due to a fault in the system. They overcome the problem of installing an incorrect size of fuse in the circuit.

Question 29

What is the EU REACH?

Answer 29

EU REACH (REGISTRATION, EVALUATION, AUTHORIZATION AND RESTRICTION OF CHEMICALS) is an EU regulation that requires a safety data sheet (SDS) should be supplied with any hazardous chemical.