Farming is a tough occupation even at the best of times when conditions are favourable. Adverse weather conditions throughout the winter months bring challenges and risks to your farm’s livestock and property. It’s important to prepare your farm properly for the winter months. In this article, we’ve listed some simple tips on ensuring safety on your farm during winter and over the holiday season.
1. Stay on top of farm maintenance
All too often we put simple maintenance tasks and repairs on the long finger, only to regret not having completed them sooner when the issue becomes more complex, more expensive, and more dangerous. This is why it’s important to stay on top of your farm maintenance. You could start by making a list of repairs that are needed and arrange to complete them as soon as possible. It might be helpful to update or start a new farm safety risk assessment .
Before there’s any frost or snow, you should clean and salt the areas around your farmyard that are used most often to maintain grip levels on the ground and to try to avoid any slipping accidents. Make sure you have all the supplies you need on your farm for the winter months, like fuel, animal feed, grit, and sand, so you’re not stuck when bad weather comes.
2. Make a plan for livestock
Plan how you’ll get food and water to your livestock in the event of a storm, frost, or a heavy snowfall. Focus part of your plan on keeping your farm in operation and your animals safe if there’s flooding.
Make sure your livestock have adequate shelter, especially from the cold winter winds. Your dairy buildings should always be kept clean in case sudden bad weather forces you to take the cows indoors full-time.
3. Power up – lighting and electrics
Now is a good time to have your farm examined, making sure all plugs are correctly wired and your cables are solid. Check that all regular walkways are well-lit and replace any blown bulbs. If there are any electrical repairs needed, make sure they’re carried out by a registered electrician.
Make sure you have a back-up power source that’s working, such as a diesel generator.
4. Be safe, be seen, be protected
Wearing and using personal protection equipment in the correct way can help reduce injuries and exposure to bad weather and chemicals. Whenever you head outside, make sure your clothing is weather appropriate and you’re visible – particularly when working near machinery. Always wear fluorescent, high-vis garments, and make sure you to avoid loose clothing or jackets when using farm machinery. Always let someone know you’re heading out and when you plan to be back and arm yourself with a torch and a fully charged mobile phone.
5. Protect your farm machinery
One step to take to protect your farm machinery is to keep it indoors when possible. You should check that all mirrors, lights and indicators on your machinery are working, while also checking that your anti-freeze solution is topped up. Ensure that the handbrake is working on all machines to avoid any accidents caused by poor braking. Adding a ‘kill switch’ to tractors and other farm machines will help to reduce accidents and instances of fires.
6. Remember fire safety
As the cold weather sets in and you move some of your vehicles indoors, it’s important to ensure that they’re parked safely away from any combustible materials at the end of each day. Make sure straw and hay aren’t in contact with electrical components or lighting, to prevent ignition. Move any flammable materials away from livestock buildings and houses.
7. Education is key to keep children safe on a farm
You may have children living on your farm or have some visiting your house and farm When there’s children on your farm it’s important to take them for a walk around the farm and talk to them about the dangers of a farm. You should always ensure that children have correct clothing on and you should remind them that farm machines aren’t toys. Check out our guide with tips to keep children safe on a farm .
8. Slow and steady wins the race
This one may sound obvious, but adopting a mindful attitude – especially where heavy machinery is involved – will ensure tasks are completed in a methodical manner that avoids mistakes associated with rushing and carelessness. So, be sure to take your time when completing tasks on the farm.
9. Protect what matters with farm insurance
Winters on the farm present a few more challenges for everyone. However, these tips should help you to get through the cold, wet weather and have a safe and happy winter.
To protect you and your farm against the unexpected this winter, AXA Farm Insurance offering will provide you with the cover and peace of mind that you need. If you have any questions about your existing farm insurance policy, you can call our team on 090 643 5070 or request a call back at a time that suits you.
